Soil-fauna

Guides

• Abdiunguis

  Abdiunguis is a genus of minute rove beetles (family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae) established in 1962. As a member of the tribe Trichonychini, it belongs to a diverse group of small beetles that inhabit leaf litter and soil microhabitats. The genus contains species with reduced elytra and compact body forms characteristic of pselaphine beetles.

  PselaphinaeTrichonychinirove-beetlesleaf-litter-beetlessoil-fauna

• Acari

  Mites and Ticks, mites, ticks

  Acari is a subclass of arachnids containing mites and ticks. The group exhibits extraordinary diversity with fossil records dating to the early Devonian period. Recent phylogenetic analyses have challenged the monophyly of Acari, suggesting that the two main lineages—Parasitiformes (ticks and allies) and Acariformes (dust mites, spider mites, chiggers, and allies)—may not share a single common ancestor exclusive of other arachnids. This would render Acari a paraphyletic or polyphyletic grouping rather than a natural taxon. The traditional unifying character, the gnathosoma (a modified mouthpart region), has been shown to be absent or differently constructed in many species across both lineages.

  arachnidmitetickparasitepredatorvectoragricultural-pestbiological-controlforensic-indicatorsoil-fauna

• Achipterioidea

  Achipterioidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites (Oribatida) within the order Sarcoptiformes. These mites are part of the diverse soil-dwelling microarthropod fauna. The superfamily was established by Thor in 1929 and is classified within the infraorder Brachypylina and the group Poronoticae.

  mitesoribatid-mitessoil-faunadecomposersmicroarthropods

• Acylophorus pronus

  Stooping Rove Beetle

  Acylophorus pronus is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, commonly known as the Stooping Rove Beetle. The species was described by Erichson in 1840 and is widely distributed across northern North America. As a member of the large genus Acylophorus, it inhabits moist terrestrial environments where it functions as a generalist predator or scavenger.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaeNorth-Americasoil-faunalitter-inhabitant

• Adenosejus

  Adenosejus is a genus of mites in the family Sejidae, order Mesostigmata. It was described in 2004 by Lekveishvili and Krantz. The genus belongs to the cohort Sejina, a group of large, heavily sclerotized mites often associated with soil and decomposing organic matter. As a recently described genus with limited subsequent study, its biology and ecology remain poorly documented.

  mitesmesostigmatasejidaesoil-faunaacari2004-descriptiondoubtful-taxonomy

• Aleochara lucifuga

  Aleochara lucifuga is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Aleocharinae, characterized by the abbreviated elytra typical of Staphylinidae. The species was described by Casey in 1893 and is documented from multiple eastern and central U.S. states. It belongs to a large genus of predatory rove beetles, though specific natural history details for this species remain poorly documented.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaeAleocharinaeColeopteraNorth-Americasoil-fauna

• Aleocharinae

  rove beetles

  Aleocharinae is the largest subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae), containing over 12,000 described species across more than 1,000 genera and 52 tribes. Members are predominantly small to minute beetles, typically 3–5 mm in length, with highly variable morphology reflecting their diverse ecological specializations. The subfamily exhibits extraordinary biological diversity, including free-living, myrmecophilous, termitophilous, parasitic, predatory, fungivorous, and herbivorous forms distributed across all terrestrial habitats worldwide.

  rove-beetlessoil-faunaleaf-littermyrmecophilytermitophilyStaphylinidae

• Allacma

  Allacma is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Sminthuridae, first described by Börner in 1906. Members of this genus are globular springtails characterized by their compact, rounded body form typical of the order Symphypleona. The genus contains multiple species distributed across Europe and North America, with records extending to Arctic and Mediterranean regions. Allacma fusca, described by Linnaeus in 1758, is a well-known representative species.

  springtailsglobular-springtailssoil-faunadecomposers

• Alliopsis

  Alliopsis is a genus of root-maggot flies in the family Anthomyiidae, established by Schnabl and Dziedzicki in 1911. The genus contains at least 70 described species, though species-level taxonomy remains incompletely resolved. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized flies associated with soil and root habitats. The genus has been documented across northern Europe.

  AnthomyiidaeDipteraroot-maggot-fliessoil-fauna

• Allonychiurus

  Allonychiurus is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Onychiuridae, established by Yoshii in 1995. The genus includes species that inhabit soil ecosystems, with Allonychiurus kimi being particularly well-studied as an ISO-standardized soil bioindicator for ecotoxicology. Members are wingless and exhibit limited mobility, with some species showing negative phototaxis. The genus has been documented across Arctic, subarctic, and temperate regions including Europe and northeastern Eurasia.

  Collembolaspringtailsoil-faunabioindicatorecotoxicologyOnychiuridae

• Allonychiurus flavescens

  Allonychiurus flavescens is a species of springtail in the family Onychiuridae. It is a small, soil-dwelling hexapod found in Pacific North American and Sino-Japanese regions. As an euedaphic collembolan, it lives deep within soil profiles and lacks a furcula (springing organ) typical of surface-dwelling springtails. The species was described by Kinoshita in 1916.

  Collembolaspringtailsoil-faunaeuedaphicOnychiuridaePacific-North-AmericaJapanmicroarthropoddecomposer

• Allopauropus

  Allopauropus is a genus of minute soil-dwelling myriapods in the class Pauropoda. These organisms belong to the order Tetramerocerata, characterized by four-segmented antennae. Pauropods are among the smallest myriapods, generally measuring under 2 mm in length, and are poorly studied due to their cryptic lifestyle in soil and leaf litter. The genus has been recorded from scattered localities across Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia.

  soil-faunamyriapodmicroarthropodcrypticTetramerocerata

• Allopauropus carolinensis

  Allopauropus carolinensis is a species of pauropod, a group of small, soil-dwelling myriapods in the class Pauropoda. Pauropods are among the least studied myriapod classes, characterized by their diminutive size and cryptic lifestyle in soil and leaf litter. The species was described by Starling in 1943 and is known from North America, with records from Ontario.

  pauropodmyriapodsoil-faunadecomposercryptic

• Americanura bara

  Americanura bara is a species of springtail in the family Neanuridae, described by K. Christiansen and P. Bellinger in 1980. It belongs to the order Poduromorpha, a group of springtails characterized by their relatively short bodies and reduced furcula. The species is part of the genus Americanura, which contains several North American species. Distribution records indicate presence in northern and southern North America.

  springtailCollembolaPoduromorphaNeanuridaeNorth-Americasoil-faunadecomposer

• Anillina

  A subtribe of minute ground beetles (Carabidae: Bembidiini) characterized by reduced eyes, elongated appendages, and adaptations for subterranean or cryptic habitats. Members exhibit convergent morphological traits associated with life in soil, leaf litter, or caves. The subtribe includes genera distributed across southern Gondwanan landmasses including New Zealand, Madagascar, and Australia, as well as the Northern Hemisphere.

  CarabidaeBembidiinisubterraneanGondwanaTyphlocharisPelodiaetodescave-beetlessoil-faunamicrocarabids

• Anillinus arenicollis

  Anillinus arenicollis is a species of minute ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It belongs to a genus of small, often eyeless or reduced-eyed beetles adapted to subterranean or soil-dwelling habits. The species epithet 'arenicollis' suggests association with sandy habitats. Members of Anillinus are among the smallest carabid beetles and are poorly known due to their cryptic lifestyle.

  Carabidaeground-beetlesubterraneansand-dwellingeyelessminute-beetlesoil-faunaNorth-America

• Anillinus folkertsi

  Anillinus folkertsi is a small ground beetle in the tribe Anillini (Carabidae), described from Alabama in 2004. Species in this genus are typically minute, eyeless or with reduced eyes, and adapted to life in soil and leaf litter habitats. The genus Anillinus is part of a diverse radiation of anilline ground beetles in eastern North America.

  ground-beetleCarabidaeAnillinilitter-dwellingendogeanAlabama-endemiceyeless-beetlesoil-fauna

• Anillinus jancae

  Anillinus jancae is a small, eyeless ground beetle in the tribe Bembidiini. It was described by Thomas C. Barr in 1995 based on specimens from Kentucky. The species belongs to a genus of minute carabids adapted to subterranean or deep soil habitats. Like other Anillinus species, it exhibits troglomorphic traits including reduced pigmentation and vestigial eyes.

  ground-beetleeyelesssubterraneantroglomorphicsoil-faunaKentucky-endemicCarabidaeBembidiinaeAnillinuscave-beetleendemicrare

• Anillinus micamicus

  Anillinus micamicus is a species of minute ground beetle in the tribe Anillini, subfamily Bembidiinae. Species in this genus are characterized by their extremely small size, reduced eyes, and subterranean or soil-dwelling habits. Anillinus micamicus was described from specimens collected in the southeastern United States. Like other anillines, it is presumed to inhabit deep soil and leaf litter layers, where it occupies a cryptic lifestyle with limited surface activity.

  Carabidaeground-beetlesubterraneansoil-faunaAppalachianendogeanapterouscryptic-species

• Anillinus murrayae

  Anillinus murrayae is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Sokolov and Carlton in 2004. It belongs to the genus Anillinus, a group of minute, eyeless or nearly eyeless beetles adapted to subterranean and soil-dwelling lifestyles. The species is known from the United States. Like other members of its genus, it likely inhabits deep soil and leaf litter layers in forested environments.

  CarabidaeTrechinaeAnillinusground-beetlesubterraneaneyelesssoil-faunaNorth-AmericaUSA

• Anotylus insignitus

  Anotylus insignitus is a species of spiny-legged rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It has an exceptionally broad global distribution spanning six continents, including native ranges in the Neotropics and Caribbean, and introduced populations in North America, Europe, and Oceania. The species belongs to the tribe Oxytelini, a group characterized by fossorial (burrowing) habits and association with decaying organic matter.

  rove-beetlespiny-leggedintroduced-speciescosmopolitan-distributionsoil-faunaStaphylinidaeOxytelini

• Anurida granaria

  granary short-legged springtail

  Anurida granaria is a springtail species in the family Neanuridae, first described by Hercule Nicolet in 1847. It has been observed in a documented mycophagy association with the cup fungus Peziza arvernensis in southern Brazil, where a colony of over 500 individuals used a single fungal apothecium as both food source and living space. The species exhibits complete life cycle activities including molting, courtship behavior, and oviposition within fungal structures.

  springtailCollembolamycophagyfungivoreripariansoil-faunaNeanuridaeBrazilPeziza-arvernensisnutrient-cycling

• Anurophorinae

  Anurophorinae is a subfamily of springtails (Collembola) within the family Isotomidae, established by Börner in 1901. Members of this subfamily are characterized by the absence of a furcula (springing organ), a trait reflected in the name 'Anurophorinae' (meaning 'tailless'). These small hexapods are part of the diverse soil and leaf litter fauna, contributing to decomposition processes. The subfamily is moderately well-represented in global collections with over 1,100 iNaturalist observations recorded.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunadecomposerfurcula-absent

• Anurophorus near-septentrionalis

  Anurophorus near-septentrionalis is a species of springtail in the family Isotomidae. It belongs to a genus of small, elongate collembolans found primarily in soil and leaf litter habitats. The specific epithet 'near-septentrionalis' suggests morphological similarity to A. septentrionalis, a northern-distributed species, though its precise taxonomic status may require verification.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunadecomposerIsotomidae

• Anystidae

  whirligig mites

  Anystidae is a family of predatory mites comprising over 100 species, commonly known as whirligig mites. They are active generalist predators found in soils and on vegetation worldwide. The family includes notable genera such as Anystis, Tarsotomus, and Chaussieria. Several species have been investigated for biological control potential against agricultural pests including thrips, aphids, and spider mites.

  mitespredatorybiological-controlagriculturecosmopolitansoil-faunavineyard-pest-managementorchard-ecologyaestivationmotile-prelarva

• Anystina

  Anystina is an infraorder of mites within the suborder Prostigmata (Trombidiformes). This group includes several families of relatively active, often predatory mites. Members are characterized by features of the gnathosoma and leg chaetotaxy that distinguish them from other prostigmatan lineages. The infraorder encompasses taxa such as Anystidae and related families, many of which occupy soil, leaf litter, and vegetation habitats.

  mitesProstigmatapredatory-mitessoil-faunaTrombidiformes

• Aptopus gracilis

  Aptopus gracilis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, tribe Xantholinini. Members of this genus are characterized by their slender, elongated body form typical of many rove beetles. The species is distinguished from congeners by its gracile proportions and specific morphological details of the antennae and pronotum. Like other Xantholinini, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and soil habitats, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in published literature.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaeXantholininisoil-faunalitter-fauna

• Arrhopalites

  springtails

  Arrhopalites is a genus of globular springtails (Collembola: Symphypleona) in the family Arrhopalitidae. The genus comprises approximately 40 valid species, with roughly half considered troglobionts—obligate cave-dwelling organisms. Species occur across diverse habitats including cave systems, forest leaf litter, and soil environments, with distribution spanning the Neotropical Region, Asia, Europe, and other regions. The genus is taxonomically significant for phylogenetic studies of Symphypleona, though many aspects of its biology remain understudied.

  Collembolaspringtailscave-dwellingtroglobiontsoil-faunaecotoxicologyArrhopalitidaeSymphypleonaglobular-springtailscavernicolous

• Arrhopalites diversus

  Arrhopalites diversus is a species of globular springtail in the family Arrhopalitidae, described by H.B. Mills in 1934. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded, globular body form. The species has been recorded from multiple regions across North America and the Caribbean. Like other members of its family, it inhabits soil and leaf litter environments.

  springtailCollembolaSymphypleonasoil-faunaArrhopalitidae

• Ascidae

  Ascidae is a family of predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata. Members occupy diverse habitats including soil, litter, bark, and freshwater margins. Many species are phoretic, dispersing on larger arthropods such as beetles and flies. The family was historically broader, with Blattisociidae and Melicharidae now treated as separate families based on morphological distinctions.

  mesostigmatic-mitespredatory-mitessoil-faunaphoresybiological-controlstored-grain-pests

• Aspidoglossa

  Aspidoglossa is a genus of ground beetles (family Carabidae) established by Putzeys in 1846. The genus comprises approximately 26 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropics, with a single species, Aspidoglossa subangulata, extending into the southern United States. These beetles belong to the subtribe Ardistomina within the tribe Clivinini, a group characterized by fossorial (burrowing) adaptations. The genus has been documented through 629 iNaturalist observations, indicating moderate levels of citizen science engagement.

  CarabidaeColeopteraground-beetlesNeotropicalfossorialArdistominaClivininisoil-fauna

• Astenus cinctus

  Astenus cinctus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1831. As a member of the subfamily Paederinae, it belongs to a diverse group of predatory beetles characterized by their elongated bodies and short elytra. The genus Astenus contains numerous species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, with A. cinctus documented from parts of Canada and the United States.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaePaederinaeground-beetleNorth-Americasoil-faunapredator

• Atheta particula

  Atheta particula is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Casey in 1910. It belongs to the large and diverse subfamily Aleocharinae, one of the most species-rich lineages within the rove beetles. The species has been documented from limited observations in northeastern North America, with records from Canada and the northeastern United States. Like many aleocharine rove beetles, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and soil habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaeAleocharinaeNorth-Americanortheastern-Nearcticsoil-faunaCasey-1910

• Atheta pennsylvanica

  Atheta pennsylvanica is a species of rove beetle described by Bernhauer in 1907. It belongs to the large genus Atheta within the subfamily Aleocharinae. The species is known from eastern North America, with records spanning Canada and the northeastern United States. Like other aleocharine rove beetles, it is small-bodied and associated with soil and leaf litter habitats.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaeAleocharinaeAthetaNorth-AmericaCanadaUSAsoil-faunaleaf-litterColeoptera

• Balaustiinae

  Balaustiinae is a subfamily of mites in the family Erythraeidae, within the order Trombidiformes. Members are predatory erythraeoid mites characterized by specific morphological features in their leg chaetotaxy and body setation patterns. The subfamily was established by Grandjean in 1947 and contains multiple genera distributed across various terrestrial habitats.

  mitesErythraeidaeTrombidiformespredatory-mitessoil-faunaterrestrial-arachnids

• Ballistura tuberculata

  Ballistura tuberculata is a species of springtail in the family Isotomidae, described by J. Stach in 1947. It belongs to the order Entomobryomorpha, one of the major lineages of Collembola. The specific epithet 'tuberculata' suggests the presence of tubercle-like structures, though detailed morphological descriptions remain limited in available literature.

  CollembolaspringtailIsotomidaeEntomobryomorphaEuropesoil-faunamicroarthropod

• Batriasymmodes

  Batriasymmodes is a genus of minute rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae, described by Orlando Park in 1951. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Batrisini, a diverse group of small beetles often associated with leaf litter and soil habitats. The genus is part of the hyperdiverse Pselaphinae, one of the most species-rich subfamilies of Staphylinidae, though individual species remain poorly documented in public databases. Observations of this genus are extremely sparse, with only five records in iNaturalist as of the available data.

  rove-beetlesPselaphinaeBatrisiniminute-beetlessoil-faunatropical-beetlesunderstudied-genus

• Battigrassiella wheeleri

  Battigrassiella wheeleri is a species of silverfish in the family Nicoletiidae, order Zygentoma. This small, wingless insect belongs to a group of primitive hexapods characterized by elongated bodies, three long tail-like appendages, and ametabolous development. Members of Nicoletiidae are typically found in concealed habitats such as soil, leaf litter, and caves. The genus Battigrassiella contains species adapted to subterranean or cryptic environments.

  silverfishthysanuraapterygotasoil-faunacryptic

• Bollmaniulus

  Bollmaniulus is a genus of cylindrical millipedes in the family Parajulidae, order Julida. The genus was established by Verhoeff in 1926 and contains approximately 14 described species distributed primarily in western North America. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized juliform millipedes characterized by their relatively simple gonopod structure compared to related genera.

  millipedejulidaparajulidaenorth-americasoil-fauna

• Bothriovulsus

  Bothriovulsus is a genus of globular springtails (Symphypleona) in the family Dicyrtomidae, established by W.R. Richards in 1968. Members of this genus are small, soil-dwelling hexapods characterized by their rounded body form and reduced furcula. The genus is distributed across the Pacific North American, southern North American, and Sino-Japanese regions. Very few observations exist, with only four records documented on iNaturalist.

  CollembolaSymphypleonaDicyrtomidaeglobular-springtailsoil-faunaPtenothricinae1968Richards

• Bourletiella savona

  Bourletiella savona is a species of globular springtail in the family Bourletiellidae, described by E.A. Maynard in 1951. As a member of the order Symphypleona, it possesses the characteristic rounded, globular body form distinct from the elongated shape of other springtail groups. The species is known from North America. Like other bourletiellid springtails, it inhabits soil and leaf litter environments where it contributes to decomposition processes.

  springtailCollembolaSymphypleonasoil-faunadecomposer

• Bourletiella viridescens

  garden springtail

  Bourletiella viridescens is a species of globular springtail (order Symphypleona) commonly known as the garden springtail. It was described by Stach in 1920 and has been recorded from Europe, the Azores, and Australia. A 2015 taxonomic revision established that Katianna coeruleocephala, described from Java in 1920 from a single collection, is a junior synonym of this species. The species inhabits moist organic substrates and is associated with decomposing plant material.

  Collembolaspringtailsoil-faunadecomposerglobular-springtailgarden-springtail

• Brachycepsis

  Brachycepsis is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Scydmaeninae, established by Brendel in 1889. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Stenichnini, a group characterized by small body size and specialized ecological associations. The genus is part of the diverse Staphylinidae family, one of the largest beetle families. Limited species-level information is available in public databases.

  minute-beetlesrove-beetlesStenichninisoil-faunaleaf-litter

• Brachygluta

  ant-loving beetles

  Brachygluta is a genus of ant-loving beetles (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) containing over 80 described species. These small rove beetles are specialist predators of mites. The Nearctic fauna has been revised, with 29 species recognized in North America.

  ColeopteraStaphylinidaePselaphinaemyrmecophilousmite-predatorsoil-faunaleaf-litterNearcticPalearctic

• Brachygluta ulkei

  Brachygluta ulkei is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of minute beetles often associated with leaf litter and soil habitats. The species was described by Brendel in 1866 and occurs in the eastern United States. Like other pselaphines, it is likely a predator or scavenger in microarthropod communities, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.

  ColeopteraStaphylinidaePselaphinaerove-beetleNorth-Americaleaf-littersoil-faunacrypticminute-beetle

• Brachyglutini

  Brachyglutini is a tribe of rove beetles in the subfamily Pselaphinae (family Staphylinidae). These beetles are minute, typically measuring 1–2 mm in length, and exhibit the characteristic compact body form and reduced elytra typical of pselaphine rove beetles. The tribe was established by Raffray in 1904 and contains numerous genera distributed across multiple continents. Members of this tribe are primarily found in forest litter and soil habitats where they function as micro-predators or scavengers.

  rove-beetlePselaphinaelitter-beetlemicrobeetlesoil-fauna

• Brachypauropodidae

  Brachypauropodidae is a family of minute myriapods in the order Tetramerocerata, containing 33 species across seven genera. Members are characterized by specific tergite and sternite arrangements, with most adults possessing nine pairs of legs—though two genera (Aletopauropus and Zygopauropus) have only eight pairs. The family exhibits a nearly worldwide distribution, occurring on all continents except South America and Antarctica.

  pauropodsmyriapodssoil-faunamicroarthropods

• Brachypylina

  Brachypylina is a diverse infraorder of oribatid mites (beetle mites) comprising the majority of oribatid species. These mites are characterized by heavily armored, beetle-like bodies with a distinct separation between the notogastral shield and other body regions. They occupy a wide range of terrestrial habitats and play significant roles in decomposition and nutrient cycling.

  oribatid-mitesmitearachniddecomposersoil-faunacryptic-faunasexual-dimorphismsclerotizedcircumgastric-furrow

• Brachystomella parvula

  Brachystomella parvula is a species of springtail in the family Brachystomellidae, described by Schäffer in 1896. It belongs to the order Poduromorpha, a group of small hexapods characterized by reduced or absent furcula (springing organ) in some families. The species has been recorded from European localities, with additional distribution records from the Azores (Faial and São Miguel islands) and broader Atlantic regions.

  springtailCollembolaPoduromorphaBrachystomellidaeEuropean-faunasoil-fauna

• Brachystomella villalobosi

  Brachystomella villalobosi is a species of springtail described from Brazil in 1962. It belongs to the family Brachystomellidae, a group of small, soil-dwelling hexapods within the order Poduromorpha. The species is documented from northeastern and central Brazil, with records also from the Caribbean mainland. Very few observations exist, with only two records in iNaturalist.

  springtailCollembolaNeotropicalsoil-fauna

• Byrrhinae

  pill beetles

  Byrrhinae is a subfamily of pill beetles within the family Byrrhidae, established by Latreille in 1804. The subfamily comprises approximately 25 genera and at least 160 described species. Members are small, compact beetles with a characteristic rounded, pill-like body form that enables conglobation—rolling into a ball when disturbed. Byrrhinae represents the more species-rich of the two subfamilies in Byrrhidae.

  ColeopteraByrrhidaepill-beetlesconglobationsoil-faunadecomposersleaf-litter-beetles

• Caeculus

  rake-legged mites

  Caeculus is a genus of large prostigmatic mites in the family Caeculidae, commonly known as rake-legged mites. The genus contains approximately 20 described species, predominantly distributed in North America. Members are characterized by spiniform setae on their first pair of legs, which function in prey capture. These mites are ambush predators of small arthropods in arid environments.

  mitesprostigmatapredatorarid-habitatsoil-faunaambush-predator

• Calvatomina

  Calvatomina is a genus of globular springtails (order Symphypleona) in the family Dicyrtomidae, established by Yosii in 1966. These small hexapods are characterized by their rounded body form and are distributed across tropical and subtropical regions including the Amazon, Andes, Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. The genus belongs to the subfamily Dicyrtominae, a group known for their distinctive body shape and reduced mouthpart structures. Records from iNaturalist indicate active observation and documentation of this genus, with approximately 170 observations contributing to its study.

  CollembolaSymphypleonaDicyrtomidaeglobular-springtailstropicalsoil-fauna

• Calvatomina rufescens

  Calvatomina rufescens is a globular springtail species in the family Dicyrtomidae, first described by O.M. Reuter in 1892. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded, globular body form distinct from the elongate shape of other springtail groups. The species has been recorded from Europe, the Caribbean mainland, and Macaronesia. Like other dicyrtomids, it inhabits moist terrestrial environments where it contributes to decomposition processes.

  CollembolaSymphypleonaDicyrtomidaespringtailglobular-springtailsoil-faunadecomposer

• Calx

  Calx is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Entomobryidae, first described by Kenneth Christiansen in 1958. The genus belongs to the subfamily Entomobryinae and tribe Entomobryini. Members of this genus are small, wingless hexapods with the characteristic furcula (springing organ) that defines the order. The genus has been recorded across multiple biogeographic regions including North America, the Caribbean, the Andes, and India.

  springtailCollembolaEntomobryidaehexapodsoil-faunawingless-insectmicroarthropodKenneth-Christiansen-1958

• Camisia

  Camisia is a genus of oribatid mites (Oribatida) in the family Crotoniidae, comprising 34 species and one subspecies worldwide. These large mites (>1 mm) are primarily arboreal, inhabiting tree trunks, forest canopies, and moss-lichen communities on rocky surfaces. The genus exhibits distinctive morphological adaptations including cuticular secretions that bind sand grains to the body surface. Camisia is notable for its complex taxonomic history, having been classified in both Crotoniidae and Camisiidae families by different authorities.

  oribatid-mitesarboreal-mitessoil-faunaparthenogenesisCarpathian-fauna

• Camisiidae

  Camisiidae is a family of oribatid mites in the order Oribatida, containing at least 3 genera and approximately 70 described species. The family includes genera such as Camisia, Austronothrus, Heminothrus, and Platynothrus. Species within this family have been documented from temperate rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest habitats, particularly in southern Australia. Some taxonomic authorities treat Camisiidae as a synonym of Crotoniidae.

  oribatid-mitessoil-faunatemperate-forestssouthern-hemisphereAustraliachaetotaxyontogeny

• Campodea

  two-pronged bristletails

  Campodea is a genus of small, white, ancestrally wingless hexapods in the order Diplura, commonly called two-pronged bristletails. The genus contains at least 130 described species, with Campodea staphylinus being the most widely known and studied. These blind soil-dwelling arthropods possess remarkable regenerative capacity for lost appendages, including their long antennae. As sister group to Insecta (sensu stricto), Campodea serves as a key reference taxon for understanding early hexapod evolution and the genomic origins of insect innovations.

  soil-faunawinglessblindregenerationgenomic-referencedipluranhexapod-evolution

• Campodeidae

  slender entrophs

  Campodeidae is a family of small, pale, eyeless hexapods in the order Diplura, distinguished by two long, many-segmented cerci at the abdomen tip. The family contains at least 30 genera and approximately 280 described species, distributed across soil and cave habitats worldwide. Members range from 5–12 mm in length, with the largest species being the cave-dwelling Pacificampa daidarabotchi from Japan. Abdominal spiracles are absent. The family exhibits diverse ecological strategies, with many species adapted to subterranean environments showing troglomorphic features such as elongated appendages and enhanced sensory structures.

  Diplurahexapodssoil-faunacave-faunatroglomorphyPalearcticsubterraneandecomposersendemicconservation

• Campsomerini

  mammoth wasps

  Campsomerini is a cosmopolitan tribe within the family Scoliidae (Hymenoptera), currently classified under subfamily Scoliinae. Members are commonly known as mammoth wasps. The tribe's higher-level taxonomy has been unstable, having been treated historically as subfamily Campsomerinae before being demoted to tribal status. Recent phylogenetic studies using ultraconserved element (UCE) data support Campsomerini sensu stricto (excluding Colpa and allies) as monophyletic, with the Australasian genus Trisciloa as sister to remaining members.

  HymenopteraScoliidaeparasitoidmammoth-waspscosmopolitantaxonomic-revision-neededUCE-phylogenomicsscarab-parasitoidsoil-faunaleaf-litter-fauna

• Carabodoidea

  Carabodoidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites within the order Sarcoptiformes. These mites are part of the diverse soil microarthropod community, contributing to decomposition processes. The group was established by Koch in 1843 and is classified within the infraorder Brachypylina. Members are characterized by certain morphological features of the legs and body structure that distinguish them from other oribatid superfamilies.

  mitesoribatidssoil-faunamicroarthropods

• Carebara

  Marauder Ants, Carebara Thief Ants

  Carebara is a large genus of myrmicine ants comprising over 200 species distributed worldwide in tropical and Afrotropical regions. These ants are among the smallest known, with workers often barely visible to the naked eye. The genus exhibits remarkable worker polymorphism, including specialized soldier castes with phragmotic (door-blocking) head shapes in some African species. Queens are notably much larger than workers, creating one of the most extreme size dimorphisms in ants. Many species are cryptic inhabitants of soil and leaf litter, with poorly known biology.

  antsMyrmicinaetropicalcrypticpolymorphismphragmosisextreme-size-dimorphismleaf-littersoil-faunatermitophagyedible-insectsMadagascar-endemism

• Cedius spinosus

  Cedius spinosus is a small rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Pselaphinae, a group commonly known as ant-loving beetles. The species is native to North America. Pselaphinae beetles are typically minute, with reduced elytra and compact bodies adapted for life in soil litter and ant colonies.

  ant-loving-beetlerove-beetleNorth-American-faunasoil-faunamyrmecophile

• Ceratophysella succinea

  Ceratophysella succinea is a species of springtail in the family Hypogastruridae. It belongs to the order Poduromorpha, a group of soil-dwelling springtails characterized by their compact body form. The species has been recorded across a broad geographic range including Arctic, European, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Australian regions.

  springtailsoil-faunapoduromorphbroad-distribution

• Cheirotoma

  Cheirotoma is a genus of springtails in the family Isotomidae, established by Bagnall in 1949. Members of this genus are small hexapods found in Pacific North American regions. As part of the diverse Collembola fauna, these organisms contribute to soil ecosystem processes. The genus remains poorly documented with limited published research.

  CollembolaIsotomidaePacific-North-Americasoil-faunahexapod

• Clypeosoma

  Clypeosoma is a genus of mites in the family Smarididae, order Trombidiformes. Smarididae are predatory mites commonly known as velvet mites due to their dense setae. The genus is poorly documented with minimal published research and only one observation recorded on iNaturalist. Its members are likely active predators in soil and leaf litter habitats.

  mitevelvet-mitesoil-faunapredatory-miteobscure-taxon

• Collembola

  springtails

  Collembola (springtails) are minute hexapods, traditionally grouped with insects but now recognized as a distinct class of non-insect hexapods. They are among the most abundant soil arthropods globally, with estimates of 200–1,800 individuals per cubic decimeter of forest soil. Most species measure 1–3 mm, though some reach 6 mm and the largest known species attains 17 mm. They occupy diverse habitats including soil, leaf litter, caves, rodent burrows, intertidal zones, ant and termite nests, freshwater surfaces, and snow fields. The group is defined by several unique morphological features: a ventral collophore on the first abdominal segment, a furcula (springing organ) on the third or fourth abdominal segment in most species, internal mouthparts (entognathy), and fused tibio-tarsal leg segments. They exhibit simple metamorphosis and continue molting throughout adult life, up to 50 times.

  springtailssoil-faunadecomposershexapodsentognathacave-faunabioindicators

• Cordioniscus

  Cordioniscus is a genus of small terrestrial isopods (woodlice) in the family Styloniscidae. The genus contains approximately 18 described species. Members are classified within the suborder Oniscidea, the group containing all fully terrestrial isopods.

  woodliceterrestrial-isopodsStyloniscidaecave-faunasoil-fauna

• Corixidea

  jumping soil bugs

  Corixidea is a genus of small true bugs in the family Schizopteridae, commonly referred to as jumping soil bugs. The genus was established by Reuter in 1891 and contains at least three described species: C. crassa, C. lunigera, and C. major. These insects belong to the infraorder Dipsocoromorpha, a group of minute predatory or cryptozoic bugs associated with soil and leaf litter habitats. The genus is characterized by adaptations for jumping locomotion, though specific morphological details remain poorly documented in accessible literature.

  HemipteraHeteropteraDipsocoromorphaSchizopteridaesoil-faunaleaf-littercryptic-insectsjumping-bugs

• Cosmochthoniidae

  Cosmochthoniidae is a family of oribatid mites in the superfamily Cosmochthonioidea, established by Grandjean in 1947. The family comprises approximately 6 genera and at least 40 described species, with Cosmochthonius being the most species-rich and widely studied genus. Members of this family are distributed across Mediterranean regions, parts of the former Soviet Union including Ukraine and Tajikistan, and northern Europe. The family belongs to the ancient mite group Enarthronota, characterized by primitive morphological features.

  mitesoribatidasoil-faunaarachnidaacari

• Cosmochthonius

  Cosmochthonius is a genus of oribatid mites (Oribatida: Cosmochthoniidae) established by Berlese in 1910. The genus comprises at least eleven species distributed across the Mediterranean basin and parts of the former Soviet Union. Species exhibit a split distribution pattern, with five species occurring in both western and eastern Mediterranean regions while six species are endemic to the eastern Mediterranean.

  oribatidmiteMediterraneansoil-fauna

• Crosbyella distincta

  armoured harvestman

  Crosbyella distincta is a species of armoured harvestman described by Goodnight & Goodnight in 1942. It belongs to the family Phalangodidae, a group of small to medium-sized harvestmen characterized by their heavily armored bodies. The species is known from North America. Armoured harvestmen in this family are typically found in leaf litter and soil habitats where they function as predators and scavengers.

  harvestmanOpilionesPhalangodidaeNorth-Americasoil-faunaleaf-litter

• Cryptops

  cave centipedes

  Cryptops is a genus of centipedes in the family Cryptopidae, commonly referred to as cave centipedes. The genus has a worldwide distribution with numerous species documented across Europe, Asia, and other regions. Some species exhibit troglobitic adaptations, including Cryptops speleorex from Romania's Movile Cave, which has evolved in isolation for millions of years in a chemosynthetic ecosystem. DNA barcoding studies have revealed greater species diversity than previously recognized, with cryptic species and large genetic distances between morphologically similar taxa.

  centipedescave-faunatroglobitessoil-faunacryptic-speciesDNA-barcodingsubterraneanvenomous-predators

• Cunaxidae

  cunaxid mites, snout mites

  Cunaxidae is a family of predatory mites in the order Trombidiformes, commonly known as snout mites due to their prominent gnathosoma. The family contains at least 20 genera and over 390 described species, with some estimates exceeding 450 species across 32 genera. These mites occupy diverse terrestrial habitats worldwide except Antarctica, where they function as opportunistic predators of small arthropods and other microfauna. They exhibit two distinct foraging strategies: ambush predation and active cursorial hunting.

  predatory-mitesoil-faunabiological-controlsilken-structuresambush-predatorcursorial-huntercosmopolitan-distribution

• Cunaxoidinae

  Cunaxoidinae is a subfamily of predatory mites in the family Cunaxidae (Acari: Prostigmata). The Philippine fauna comprises 21 species. Members occupy diverse microhabitats including leaf litter, bark, organic debris, ant and termite nests, and coconut foliage. The subfamily includes genera such as Lupaeus and Scutopalus.

  mitespredatory-mitesPhilippinestropical-agriculturebiological-controlsoil-faunalitter-fauna

• Cylindrarctus crinifer

  Cylindrarctus crinifer is a small ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. The species is known from scattered records across the eastern and central United States. Like other members of the tribe Tychini, it is associated with ant colonies. Published information on its biology remains limited.

  myrmecophilePselaphinaeTychiniNorth-American-faunasoil-faunaleaf-litter-fauna

• Cylindroiulus

  Cylindroiulus is a genus of cylindrical millipedes in the family Julidae, established by Verhoeff in 1894. Species in this genus are characterized by their smooth, rounded bodies and are primarily distributed across Europe. The genus includes notable species such as Cylindroiulus punctatus, which has been sequenced for genomic studies, and Cylindroiulus nitidus, which has been studied for its life-history dynamics in woodland habitats. Members are typically found in forest floor environments, including decaying wood and soil.

  millipedeJulidaeEuropeanforest-floorsoil-faunagenome-sequenced

• Cylisticus

  Cylisticus is a genus of woodlice (terrestrial isopods) in the family Cylisticidae, containing at least 70 described species. These soil-dwelling crustaceans are found in tropical and temperate regions, where they inhabit the upper soil layers. At least one species, C. convexus, has been studied as a tropical soil decomposer with limited vertical dispersal ability. The genus is part of the diverse oniscidean fauna contributing to litter breakdown and nutrient cycling.

  isopodwoodlousesoil-faunadecomposerterrestrial-crustacean

• Cyta

  snout mites

  Cyta is a genus of snout mites in the family Bdellidae, comprising approximately 15 described species. These mites belong to the order Trombidiformes and are characterized by their distinctive elongated snout-like mouthparts. They are predatory mites found in various terrestrial habitats across northern Europe and the British Isles.

  mitespredatorysoil-faunabdellidae

• Dactyloscirus

  Dactyloscirus is a genus of predatory mites in the family Cunaxidae, first described by Berlese in 1916. These mites belong to the order Trombidiformes, a diverse group of arachnids commonly known as prostigmatid mites. Members of this genus are characterized by their distinctive leg morphology, with the genus name referencing finger-like or dactylous structures. Cunaxid mites, including Dactyloscirus, are primarily known as predators of small arthropods and are found in soil and litter habitats.

  mitespredatory-mitessoil-faunamicroarthropodsCunaxidaeTrombidiformesProstigmata

• Dagamaea

  Dagamaea is a genus of springtails in the family Isotomidae, subfamily Anurophorinae. It was established by R. Yosii in 1965. The genus has been recorded from disjunct localities across the Caribbean, North America, Central Australia, and the Pacific coast of North America. Like other isotomids, members of this genus are small, soil-dwelling hexapods with a furcula (springing organ) for escape locomotion.

  CollembolaIsotomidaesoil-faunaspringtailsrarely-collected

• Damaeidae

  Damaeidae is a family of oribatid mites (order Sarcoptiformes) comprising approximately 20 genera distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Members are primarily fungivorous and inhabit decomposing organic matter including plant litter, mosses, decaying wood, and soil layers. Several species exhibit troglophilic tendencies, occurring in subterranean habitats such as caves and mountain scree systems. The family has undergone extensive taxonomic revision, with historically recognized families Belbidae, Belbodamaeidae, and Hungarobelbidae now synonymized under Damaeidae.

  mitesoribatidsfungivoresdecomposerssoil-faunacave-faunaMSSHolarctic

• Damaeoidea

  Damaeoidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites (beetle mites) within the order Sarcoptiformes. First described by Berlese in 1896, this group comprises several families of soil-dwelling mites that play important roles in decomposition and nutrient cycling. The superfamily is part of the diverse assemblage of Brachypylina mites, one of the most species-rich lineages of oribatids.

  mitesoribatidssoil-faunadecomposersBerlese-1896

• Decapauropus lambertoni

  Decapauropus lambertoni is a species of minute myriapod in the class Pauropoda, described by Remy in 1956. Pauropods are small, soft-bodied soil-dwelling arthropods rarely encountered due to their cryptic lifestyle. The genus Decapauropus is characterized by having ten legs (five pairs) in adults, distinguishing it from the more common eight-legged (four-paired) pauropods. This species has been recorded across disjunct regions including Africa, South America, and Southern Asia, suggesting either broad distribution or potential cryptic diversity requiring taxonomic revision.

  soil-faunamicroarthropodmyriapodcryptic-speciesten-legged-pauropodmycophagous

• Deltopauropus

  Deltopauropus is a genus of minute myriapods in the family Brachypauropodidae, established by MacSwain and Lanham in 1948. Pauropods in this genus are among the smallest terrestrial arthropods, inhabiting soil and leaf litter. As members of the order Tetramerocerata, they possess four antennal segments. The genus is rarely encountered due to its cryptic lifestyle and minute size.

  soil-faunamicroarthropodcrypticwestern-North-America

• Desmonus

  Desmonus is a genus of flat-backed millipedes in the family Sphaeriodesmidae, first described by Cook in 1898. The genus contains approximately 10 described species distributed in the southeastern United States. Members of this genus belong to the order Polydesmida, characterized by their flattened body form and lateral extensions of the exoskeleton.

  millipedesflat-backed-millipedessoutheastern-United-Statesmyriapodssoil-fauna

• Desoria canadensis

  Desoria canadensis is a species of springtail in the family Isotomidae, described by Brown in 1932. This small hexapod belongs to the class Collembola, a group of wingless arthropods commonly found in soil and leaf litter. The species occurs in Arctic, subarctic, and northern North American regions. As with most springtails, it likely plays a role in decomposition and nutrient cycling in soil ecosystems.

  CollembolaIsotomidaespringtailsoil-faunaArcticNorth-America

• Desoria hoodensis

  Desoria hoodensis is a species of springtail described in 1998 by K. Christiansen and P. Bellinger. It belongs to the family Isotomidae, a large group of elongate-bodied springtails. The species is known from the Pacific North American region. Like other members of Desoria, it is a soil-dwelling microarthropod.

  Collembolaspringtailsoil-faunaPacific-NorthwestIsotomidae

• Desoria trispinata

  Desoria trispinata is a species of springtail in the family Isotomidae. It was first described from the Azores archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. The species belongs to a genus of elongate-bodied springtails commonly found in soil and leaf litter habitats. Limited published information exists on its biology.

  springtailCollembolaAzoresendemicsoil-fauna

• Deutonura

  Deutonura is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Neanuridae, established by Cassagnau in 1979. The genus contains at least 40 described species, distributed across Arctic, subarctic, and temperate regions of Europe, North America, and Macaronesia. As members of Poduromorpha, these soil-dwelling hexapods are part of the diverse springtail fauna that contributes to decomposition processes.

  springtailssoil-faunaPoduromorphaNeanuridae

• Dicellurata

  Forcepstails

  Dicellurata is a suborder of Diplura, commonly called forcepstails, characterized by the presence of paired, forceps-like cerci at the posterior end. The group comprises at least 4 families and more than 170 described species. Members are small, eyeless hexapods that inhabit soil and leaf litter environments.

  Diplurasoil-faunaapterygotehexapodforcepstailscercileaf-litter

• Dicyrtomina

  globular springtails

  Dicyrtomina is a genus of globular springtails (order Symphypleona) characterized by a rounded, compact body form distinct from elongate springtail lineages. Members exhibit latch-mediated spring-actuated (LaMSA) jumping powered by the furca, a modified fourth abdominal segment. The genus includes species such as D. minuta, which has been extensively studied for its extraordinary jumping kinematics, and D. saundersi, which displays neustonic (surface-floating) behavior. Species occur primarily in moist leaf litter habitats across Europe, North America, and other regions, with some populations adapted to aquatic surface microlayer environments.

  springtailCollembolaSymphypleonaglobular-springtailbiomechanicsjumpingsoil-faunaleaf-littergenome-sequencedneustonic

• Dicyrtominae

  globular springtails

  Dicyrtominae is a subfamily of globular springtails within the family Dicyrtomidae, established by Richards in 1968. Members exhibit the characteristic rounded, globular body form typical of the order Symphypleona. The subfamily contains at least three genera—Dicyrtoma, Dicyrtomina, and Calvatomina—with approximately 30 described species. These springtails are among the most frequently observed and photographed springtails due to their relatively large size and conspicuous coloration.

  springtailsCollembolasoil-faunadecomposersglobular-springtails

• Digamasellus

  Digamasellus is a genus of mesostigmatid mites in the family Digamasellidae, established by Berlese in 1905. The genus contains at least three described species: D. australis, D. punctum, and D. variabilis. Members of this genus are part of the diverse soil-dwelling mesostigmatid mite fauna. Specific biological details for most species remain poorly documented.

  mitesMesostigmatasoil-faunaAcari

• Dinychidae

  Dinychidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata, belonging to the suborder Monogynaspida and infraorder Uropodina. The family comprises approximately 80 described species across 13 genera, with the genus Dinychus being the most species-rich. These mites are characterized by features typical of uropodine mites, including a generally rounded body form and adaptations for life in soil and decomposing organic matter. Species have been documented from Europe, Asia, and other regions, with records from countries including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

  mitesMesostigmataUropodinasoil-faunadecomposers

• Dipara

  Dipara is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Diparidae (Chalcidoidea), first described by Walker in 1833. The genus exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: females are typically wingless (apterous) or short-winged (brachypterous) with clavate antennae, while males are fully winged (macropterous) with filiform antennae. Species are collected primarily from leaf litter and soil habitats using yellow pan traps. Despite flightless females suggesting limited dispersal, some species show minimal phylogeographic structure across broad geographic ranges.

  parasitoidsexual-dimorphismapteryleaf-littersoil-faunaChalcidoideawing-polymorphism

• Diplopoda

  millipedes

  Millipedes (Diplopoda) are a class of myriapod arthropods characterized by having two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments, a result of segmental fusion during their evolutionary history over 400 million years ago. They are primarily detritivores that play critical roles in ecosystem nutrient cycling through decomposition of organic matter. The class contains approximately 12,000 described species across 16 extant orders, with body forms ranging from elongated cylindrical forms to short, pill-like species capable of conglobation (rolling into a defensive ball).

  Myriapodadetritivoredecomposersoil-faunaancient-lineageCretaceous-amber-fossilsconservation-indicatorconglobationchemical-defensesegmental-fusion

• Diplura

  Two-pronged Bristletails

  Diplura is an order of small, wingless, eyeless hexapods within the class Entognatha, characterized by a distinctive pair of caudal appendages (cerci) that give them their common name "two-pronged bristletails." The group comprises approximately 800 described species worldwide, ranging from 2 to 50 mm in length, with some species reaching up to 8 cm. They inhabit moist soil, leaf litter, humus, and caves across all continents except Antarctica. Diplurans possess concealed mouthparts (entognathous), long bead-like antennae, and the ability to autotomize their cerci when threatened.

  soil-faunasubterraneanentognathcave-dwellingbioindicatorhexapodwinglesseyeless

• Drepanura

  springtails

  Drepanura is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Entomobryidae, first described by Schött in 1891. It belongs to the order Entomobryomorpha, one of the most diverse groups of Collembola. The genus has been recorded across multiple continents including Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Caribbean, suggesting broad geographic distribution. As with other entomobryid springtails, members of this genus are likely soil-dwelling microarthropods, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.

  springtailsCollembolasoil-faunaEntomobryidaemicroarthropods

• Drepanura californica

  Drepanura californica is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Entomobryidae. It was described by H. Schött in 1891 and is known from California and other Pacific North American regions. The genus Drepanura is characterized by distinctive morphological features including a furcula with reduced dentes. As an entomobryid springtail, it inhabits soil and leaf litter environments where it contributes to decomposition processes.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunadecomposerCalifornia-endemicEntomobryidaeEntomobryomorphaHexapodaarthropodPacific-North-America

• Drymeia flavinervis

  Drymeia flavinervis is a species of muscid fly described by Malloch in 1915. It belongs to the tribe Azeliini within the family Muscidae. The species was originally described under the genus Pogonomyia before being transferred to Drymeia. Like other members of the genus, it is likely associated with soil and decaying organic matter habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.

  MuscidaeDipteraAzeliinisoil-faunadecomposer

• Echiaster

  Echiaster is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) established by Erichson in 1839. It belongs to the subfamily Paederinae, tribe Lathrobiini, and subtribe Echiasterina. The genus is poorly documented in modern literature, with limited species-level information available. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized beetles found in leaf litter and soil habitats.

  rove-beetlePaederinaeLathrobiiniEchiasterinaleaf-litter-beetlesoil-fauna

• Edaphus

  Edaphus is the largest genus in the rove beetle subfamily Euaesthetinae, comprising approximately 600 described species worldwide. The genus exhibits cosmopolitan distribution with particularly high diversity in the Palaearctic and Oriental regions. Members are small, typically soil-dwelling beetles associated with forest floor habitats. The Korean fauna has expanded from a single known species to six through recent systematic surveys.

  rove-beetlesoil-faunaleaf-littercosmopolitanEuaesthetinae

• Elateroidea

  Click, Firefly, and Soldier Beetles

  Elateroidea is a large superfamily of beetles comprising approximately 25,000 species across multiple families. It includes the familiar click beetles (Elateridae), fireflies and glow-worms (Lampyridae and related families), and soldier beetles (Cantharidae). The superfamily exhibits remarkable morphological diversity, ranging from hard-bodied forms with five abdominal ventrites to soft-bodied forms with 7-8 ventrites connected by membranes. Bioluminescence has evolved independently in multiple lineages, particularly within the lampyroid clade and certain Elateridae. A distinctive clicking mechanism using a prothoracic peg and mesothoracic cavity is present in several sclerotized families, enabling the characteristic jumping behavior of click beetles.

  bioluminescenceclick-mechanismneotenyagricultural-pestbiological-controlsoil-faunaforest-faunapollinatorpredatordecomposer

• Eleusis

  Eleusis is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Osoriinae, tribe Eleusinini. Members of this genus are small, elongate beetles with reduced elytra characteristic of the family. The genus was established by Laporte de Castelnau in 1835 and contains species distributed in various regions.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaeOsoriinaesoil-faunaColeoptera

• Enicocephalidae

  unique-headed bugs, gnat bugs

  Enicocephalidae, commonly known as unique-headed bugs or gnat bugs, is a family of approximately 300 species within the ancient and relictual infraorder Enicocephalomorpha. Members are small true bugs, typically around 4 mm in length, characterized by their elongated, constricted heads that give the family its common name. The family exhibits global distribution with greatest species richness in humid tropical and subtropical forests. Enicocephalidae are considered living fossils due to their evolutionarily conserved morphology. The family is classified into about 47 genera placed in five subfamilies, with notable polymorphism including winged males and wingless or short-winged females in many species.

  HeteropteraEnicocephalomorphaliving-fossilswing-polymorphismsoil-faunaleaf-littermyrmecophilypredatory-bugscryptic-speciesglobal-distribution

• Entedoninae

  Entedoninae is a subfamily of chalcid wasps in the family Eulophidae comprising over 90 genera. Members are primarily parasitoids with documented associations across diverse host groups including gall-inducing insects, leafminers, sawflies, thrips, and ants. The subfamily exhibits considerable morphological and ecological diversity, with species found in tropical to temperate habitats worldwide.

  parasitoidbiological-controlgall-associatedleafminer-parasitoidChalcidoideaHymenopteraEulophidaeEntedoninaetropical-forestagricultural-pest-controlsawfly-parasitoidthrips-parasitoidant-associatedrice-pestCecidomyiidaeTenthredinidaePontaniaClosterocerusCeranisusAfronymphaAmetallonChrysonotomyiaOmphale-genus-groupcanopyunderstoreyecological-plasticityBangladeshPanamaAfricaNew-ZealandEuropeSenegalSouth-AfricaDemocratic-Republic-of-the-CongoUgandaendoparasitoidlarval-parasitoidegg-parasitoidhost-specificityforest-habitatdegraded-habitatmid-altitude-rainforestlowland-rainforesttropical-Americaclassical-biological-controlaugmentative-biological-controlintegrated-pest-managementrice-hispaDicladispa-armigeragall-waspsawfly-gallleafminerant-symbiosisFormicidaeKhaya-senegalensisOchna-pulchramorphological-taxonomymolecular-taxonomy28S-rDNACOICytBnew-species-descriptiongeneric-revisionhost-rangeparasitoid-complexfood-webecosystem-servicenatural-enemypest-managemententomophagoushyperparasitoidinquilinecurculionidApion-minimumPhyllocolpa-leucostictaChrysocharisEntedonAsecodesPleurotroppopsisAfrotroppopsisZaommomentedonApleurotropisKratoysmaPlatocharisSchizocharisParahorismenusAtullyaTropicharisChrysochuriscruymirabilisoryzamyntoreminpashaicarinatumdussiaelongicaudatamachaeriaeunimaculataclavigergorgonaenseauripunctatagalbinalaeviscutaphenacapsiacecvoraelongatapontaniaeheyeririsbecimilletiaenewbyiFörster-1856Chalcidoidea-phylogenybiodiversityspecies-richnesscryptic-speciesmolecular-diagnosticshost-plant-associationhabitat-specificitycanopy-faunaunderstorey-faunaforest-stratificationtropical-biodiversityAfrotropicalNeotropicalPalaearcticNearcticOrientalAustralasianPacificHolarcticbiogeographytaxonomic-revisionannotated-keycataloguetype-specimenmuseum-collectionslide-mounted-specimensmorphometricsgenitaliawing-venationantennaeclypeusmandiblesmalar-spacescapepedicelflagellumgastervertexsuturecolor-patternpale-femoradark-gastersexual-dimorphismmalefemaleovipositoremergencerearingquarantinefield-collectionforeign-explorationaugmentative-releasepesticide-resistancesustainable-agriculturefood-securityrice-productioncereal-pestvegetable-pestfruit-pestornamental-pestforest-pesturban-pestinvasive-speciesnative-rangeintroduced-rangeestablishmentspreadimpactnon-target-effectshost-specificityrisk-assessmentenvironmental-safetyregulatory-approvalresearch-symposiumproceedingspeer-reviewedZootaxaZooKeysInsect-Systematics-&-EvolutionAustralian-Journal-of-EntomologyFar-Eastern-EntomologistRussian-Entomological-JournalBelgian-Journal-of-EntomologyFlorida-EntomologistPan-Pacific-EntomologistEntomological-NewsProceedings-of-the-Hawaiian-Entomological-SocietyTransactions-of-the-American-Entomological-SocietyJournal-of-Natural-HistoryZoological-Journal-of-the-Linnean-SocietyBioControlJournal-of-Economic-EntomologyEntomologia-Experimentalis-et-ApplicataEnvironmental-EntomologyOecologiaCladisticsMolecular-Phylogenetics-and-EvolutionHeredityCanadian-EntomologistProceedings-of-the-Entomological-Society-of-WashingtonAnnals-of-the-Entomological-Society-of-AmericaBulletin-of-Entomological-ResearchNeotropical-EntomologyJournal-of-Asia-Pacific-EntomologyTurkish-Journal-of-ZoologyPolish-Journal-of-EntomologyNorth-Western-Journal-of-ZoologyEntomologica-AmericanaEntomologische-BerichtenSahlbergiaDugesianaActa-Zoologica-LilloanaFolia-Entomologica-MexicanaRevista-de-la-Sociedad-Entomologica-ArgentinaBoletin-de-la-Asociacion-Espanola-de-EntomologiaEntomologicheskoe-ObozrenieEntomological-ReviewZoological-Institute-RASProceedings-of-the-Zoological-Institute-of-the-Russian-Academy-of-SciencesTaiwan-Agricultural-Research-InstituteCouncil-of-AgricultureUniversity-of-CaliforniaRiversideEntomology-Research-MuseumCalifornia-Department-of-Food-and-AgriculturePierce's-Disease-Control-Programbiological-control-programintegrated-pest-management-programresearch-progress-reportannual-summarytechnical-reportsymposium-proceedingsconference-abstractposter-presentationinvited-papermonographbook-chapteridentification-guideillustrated-keyannotated-cataloguetype-materialvoucher-specimencollection-curationtaxonomysystematicsphylogeneticsmolecular-systematicsDNA-barcodingspecies-complexsibling-speciesspecies-boundariesgeographic-variationpopulation-geneticsgene-flowreproductive-isolationhost-racebiotypestrainlaboratory-rearinginsectarymass-productionreleasemonitoringimpact-assessmentefficacyeconomic-evaluationcost-benefit-analysisfarmer-adoptionextensioneducationpolicyregulationinternational-cooperationcapacity-buildingtrainingworkshopfield-daydemonstrationon-farm-researchparticipatory-researchfarmer-field-schoolsustainable-intensificationagroecologyconservation-biological-controlhabitat-managementfloral-resourcesrefugebuffer-zonelandscape-complexityconnectivityspillovernatural-enemy-diversityfood-web-structuretrophic-interactionsmultitrophicindirect-effectstrait-mediateddensity-dependentinverse-density-dependentfunctional-responsenumerical-responsesearching-efficiencyhandling-tim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• Entiminae

  Broad-nosed Weevils, Broad-nosed Weevil, Short-nosed Weevils

  Entiminae is a large subfamily of weevils (Curculionidae) containing over 12,000 described species in more than 1,370 genera. Members are commonly known as broad-nosed or short-nosed weevils due to their characteristically broad, short rostrum. The subfamily exhibits exceptional diversity in size, form, and coloration, with many species displaying metallic or iridescent scales. While most species are polyphagous and feed on a broad range of plants, relatively few are major economic pests. The current tribal classification includes 55 recognized tribes, though this system is considered artificial rather than reflecting natural evolutionary relationships.

  weevilsbroad-nosed-weevilspolyphagous-herbivoresflightless-insectsisland-radiationagricultural-pestssoil-faunaleaf-litter-fauna

• Entomobrya

  slender springtails

  Entomobrya is a genus of slender springtails in the family Entomobryidae, containing at least 270 described species. Members are characterized by elongated bodies and are among the most commonly encountered springtails in many terrestrial habitats. The genus has been documented across diverse environments including continental Europe, the Canary Islands, and cave systems in southern Spain. Species identification relies heavily on colour pattern and dorsal macrochaetotaxy, though colouration varies broadly within species and fades in preservative.

  springtailsCollembolaEntomobryidaesoil-faunacave-faunaCanary-IslandsEuropemacrochaetotaxycolour-patterntaxonomy

• Entomobrya confusa

  Entomobrya confusa is a species of slender springtail in the family Entomobryidae, described by Kenneth Christiansen in 1958. It belongs to the order Entomobryomorpha, one of the three major lineages of springtails. The species is part of a large genus of surface-dwelling springtails characterized by elongated bodies and well-developed furculae. Distribution records indicate presence in North American and Pacific North American regions.

  CollembolaspringtailEntomobryidaeNorth-Americasoil-fauna

• Entomobrya quadrilineata

  Entomobrya quadrilineata is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Entomobryidae, first described by Büker in 1939. It belongs to a large genus of slender, scaled springtails commonly found in diverse terrestrial habitats. The specific epithet "quadrilineata" refers to four longitudinal lines, likely describing a distinctive dorsal pattern on the body. Like other members of Entomobrya, this species possesses a furcula (springing organ) for escape locomotion and exhibits the characteristic entomobryid body plan with well-developed eyes and antennae.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunadecomposerNorth-America

• Entomobryidae

  slender springtails

  Entomobryidae, commonly known as slender springtails, is a large family of springtails (Collembola) containing over 1700 described species. Members are characterized by an enlarged fourth abdominal segment, a well-developed furcula (springing organ), and often possess prominent body scales that can produce striking coloration including blue, red, purple, or white patterns. The family includes both scaled and scale-less forms, with the latter frequently captured in pitfall traps globally. Many species are relatively large for springtails, reaching 2 mm or more in length.

  springtailsCollembolasoil-faunascaledcanopycave-dwellingslender-springtails

• Entomobryoides dissimilis

  Entomobryoides dissimilis is a species of springtail in the family Entomobryidae, originally described as Entomobrya dissimilis by Moniez in 1894. The species belongs to a genus characterized by reduced or absent dental structures on the maxilla, distinguishing it from the closely related genus Entomobrya. As a member of the order Entomobryomorpha, it possesses the elongated body form typical of this diverse group of Collembola. Distribution records indicate presence across North American regions including the Pacific coast.

  springtailCollembolaEntomobryidaeNorth-Americasoil-fauna

• Entomobryoides purpurascens

  Entomobryoides purpurascens is a species of springtail in the family Entomobryidae, first described by Packard in 1872. It belongs to the order Entomobryomorpha, one of the major lineages of Collembola. Springtails in this family are characterized by their elongated bodies and well-developed furcula (springing organ). The species epithet 'purpurascens' suggests a purplish or purple-tinged coloration. Like other members of its genus, it is likely adapted to moist terrestrial environments where springtails are commonly found.

  springtailCollembolaEntomobryidaesoil-faunaPackard-1872

• Entomobryomorpha

  Elongate Springtails

  Entomobryomorpha is one of three recognized orders of Collembola (springtails), distinguished by their characteristically slender, elongate body form. Members of this order typically possess either long legs and antennae with well-developed furculae, or short legs and antennae with elongated bodies that separate them from other springtail groups. The order was formerly treated as the superfamily Entomobryoidea and was grouped with Poduromorpha under the paraphyletic "Arthropleona." Current systematics recognizes Entomobryomorpha, Poduromorpha, and Symphypleona as equally distinct lineages at ordinal rank.

  Collembolaspringtailssoil-faunahexapods

• Epicriidae

  Epicriidae is a family of predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata. The family is represented by four genera: Berlesiana, Cornubia, Diepicrius, and Epicrius. Most species diversity occurs in the genus Epicrius, which contains numerous described species distributed across Europe and other regions. These mites are soil-dwelling components of forest ecosystems.

  mitesMesostigmatasoil-faunaforestEurope

• Epidapus

  fungus gnats

  Epidapus is a genus of fungus gnats within the family Sciaridae, established by Haliday in 1851. The genus comprises approximately 30 described species distributed primarily across Europe, with records from Scandinavia and other regions. Species inhabit diverse environments including forest litter, decaying wood, and fungal substrates. Larval stages are typically associated with decomposing organic matter and mycelial networks.

  fungus-gnatsSciaridaeforest-insectsdecomposersEuropean-faunasoil-faunamycophagous

• Eremaeoidea

  Eremaeoidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) established by Oudemans in 1900. Recent integrative taxonomic studies have revealed substantial cryptic diversity within this group, particularly in the genus Caleremaeus. What was long considered a single widespread species, C. monilipes, has been demonstrated to comprise at least five distinct species based on combined genetic, ecological, and morphological evidence. These mites are small, soil-dwelling microarthropods with varied habitat specializations ranging from strict deadwood association to alpine moss communities.

  cryptic-speciesintegrative-taxonomysoil-faunadecomposermicroarthropodoribatid-mite

• Erythraeus tonsus

  Erythraeus tonsus is a species of predatory mite in the family Erythraeidae, first described by L. Koch in 1879. Like other erythraeid mites, it belongs to a group of active, fast-moving predators found in terrestrial habitats. The species has been recorded across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. Erythraeid mites are generally recognized for their elongated body form and long legs adapted for cursorial (running) locomotion.

  Erythraeidaepredatory-mitesoil-faunalitter-faunaterrestrialcursorialtwo-eyed-miteHolarctic

• Euaesthetus similis

  Euaesthetus similis is a rove beetle species in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Casey in 1884. It belongs to the subfamily Euaesthetinae, a group of small staphylinids often associated with forest litter and soil habitats. The species has a broad transcontinental distribution across North America, with records from Canada through the United States to Mexico.

  StaphylinidaeEuaesthetinaerove-beetleColeopteraNorth-Americasoil-faunalitter-fauna

• Euconnus salinator

  Euconnus salinator is a minute rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scydmaeninae. Members of this genus are among the smallest beetles, often measuring under 2 mm. The species has been recorded across eastern North America from Canada to Florida. Scydmaenine beetles are primarily associated with leaf litter and soil habitats where they prey on oribatid mites.

  StaphylinidaeScydmaeninaeminute-beetleNorth-Americaleaf-littersoil-fauna

• Euphthiracaridae

  Euphthiracaridae is a family of oribatid mites within the superfamily Euphthiracaroidea, characterized by their membership in the Euptyctima group. The family includes at least two recognized genera: Rhysotritia and Microtritia. These mites belong to the diverse soil-dwelling assemblage of Oribatida, which play important roles in decomposition processes. Records indicate presence in Scandinavian regions.

  oribatid-mitessoil-faunaScandinavia

• Euplectus confluens

  Euplectus confluens is a small rove beetle (family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae) described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1849. It belongs to the tribe Euplectini, a group of minute beetles typically found in leaf litter and soil habitats. The species has a broad distribution across eastern and central North America, with records extending from Canada to the southern United States. Like other pselaphine rove beetles, it is presumed to be a predator or scavenger in decomposing organic matter, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.

  rove-beetlepselaphinelitter-faunasoil-faunaLeConte-1849

• Eurypauropus

  Eurypauropus is a genus of minute myriapods in the class Pauropoda, family Eurypauropodidae. Members are soil-dwelling arthropods characterized by a flattened body with strongly sclerotized, coarsely ornamented tergites. The genus has been recorded from Europe, Japan, and recently from China. These organisms are typically extracted from forest soil and litter samples using Berlese-Tullgren funnels.

  pauropodsoil-faunaforest-littermicroarthropodEurypauropodidae

• Evalljapyx anomobris

  Evalljapyx anomobris is a species of forceps-tailed dipluran described by Smith in 1960. It belongs to the family Japygidae, a group of small, eyeless, soil-dwelling hexapods characterized by their pincer-like cerci. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented due to the cryptic habits of diplurans and limited research attention to this group.

  dipluransoil-faunacrypticNorth-Americaforceps-tailed

• Eviphidoidea

  Eviphidoidea is a superfamily of mites within the order Mesostigmata. These mites are primarily free-living predators or scavengers in soil and litter habitats. The group includes several families of gamasid mites that are morphologically distinguished by particular features of the gnathosoma and leg chaetotaxy. They are ecologically significant as components of soil microarthropod communities.

  mitessoil-faunaMesostigmataGamasinapredatory-mitesmicroarthropods

• Exochocepheus

  Exochocepheus is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Scutoverticidae, established by Woolley & Higgins in 1968. The genus comprises seven described species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, with records from North America, Europe, and northern Asia. Oribatid mites in this group are primarily soil-dwelling decomposers.

  miteoribatidsoil-faunadecomposer

• Faronitae

  Faronitae is a supertribe of small rove beetles (Pselaphinae: Staphylinidae) comprising 29 genera worldwide. The group is particularly diverse in Australia and New Zealand, where 13 genera occur. Recent taxonomic work has described multiple new genera from these regions, including Porongurup from Western Australia, Pseudostenosagola from New Zealand, and Australosagola from southern Australia. Members are characterized by reduced body size and specialized morphological features associated with leaf litter and soil habitats.

  rove-beetlespselaphine-beetlesleaf-litter-faunaAustraliaNew-Zealandsoil-faunabiodiversity-hotspot

• Folsomia stella

  Folsomia stella is a species of springtail in the family Isotomidae, first described from North America in 1977. It belongs to a genus of small, elongate Collembola commonly found in soil and leaf litter habitats. The species has been recorded from multiple geographic regions including Arctic and sub-Arctic zones, Caribbean mainland, Hawaii, northern North America, and Pacific North America. Like other Folsomia species, it is likely a decomposer in soil ecosystems, though specific ecological studies on this species are limited.

  CollembolaspringtailIsotomidaesoil-faunadecomposerNorth-AmericaArcticHawaiiCaribbean

• Folsomides parvulus

  Folsomides parvulus is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Isotomidae, first described by Stach in 1922. As a member of the genus Folsomides, it belongs to a group of small, soil-dwelling hexapods. The species has been recorded from several island and continental locations including the Azores (Faial, São Miguel), African Indian Desert region, Amazon, and Andean regions. Very few observations exist in public databases.

  CollembolaspringtailIsotomidaesoil-fauna

• Gabrius brevipennis

  Gabrius brevipennis is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Horn in 1884. Originally placed in the genus Philonthus, it was later transferred to Gabrius. The species is broadly distributed across northern North America, occurring in Canada from British Columbia to Newfoundland and in the northern United States from Washington to New England. Like other members of the tribe Philonthina, it is likely a predatory beetle associated with decaying organic matter and soil habitats. The specific epithet "brevipennis" refers to its relatively short elytra, a characteristic feature of many rove beetles.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaePhilonthinaNorth-Americapredatory-beetlesoil-faunadecay-associated-beetle

• Gabrius micropthalmus

  Gabrius micropthalmus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, tribe Staphylinini. The species epithet 'micropthalmus' refers to its characteristically reduced eyes. It belongs to a genus of predatory rove beetles found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. The species is known from limited records and is not well studied.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaemicropthalmouseye-reductionStaphylininipredatory-beetlesoil-fauna

• Galumna

  Galumna is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Galumnidae, established by Heyden in 1826. The genus contains over 160 accepted species, with a small number organized under subgenera. These mites are part of the diverse soil-dwelling oribatid fauna that plays important roles in decomposition processes.

  mitesoribatidasoil-faunadecomposers

• Garriscaphus

  Garriscaphus is a genus of soil-dwelling centipedes in the family Himantariidae, established by Chamberlin in 1941. Members of this genus belong to the order Geophilomorpha, characterized by elongated bodies with numerous leg pairs. The genus is part of a family distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. Specific details about the biology and ecology of Garriscaphus remain poorly documented in published literature.

  centipedemyriapodsoil-faunatropical

• Garypoidea

  false scorpions

  Garypoidea is a superfamily of pseudoscorpions (order Pseudoscorpiones) established by Simon in 1879. It comprises seven families and is classified within the infraorder Iocheirata. Members are small, arachnid predators characterized by their scorpion-like pincers and flattened bodies, lacking the stinging tail of true scorpions.

  pseudoscorpionarachnidpredatormicroarthropodsoil-fauna

• Geodromicus

  Geodromicus is a genus of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae: Anthophagini) established by Redtenbacher in 1857. The genus is distributed across the Palaearctic region, with species occurring from Western Europe through Central Asia to East Asia. Taxonomic research has organized species into multiple species groups including the bodemeyeri, convexicollis, brevicollis, plagiatus, major, lestevoides, crassipalpis, aokii, and sinuatus groups. The genus has been subject to extensive revision, with numerous synonymies established and several new species described in recent years.

  rove-beetlesStaphylinidaeOmaliinaePalaearctictaxonomic-revisionspecies-groupsground-beetlessoil-fauna

• Geophilus vittatus

  diamondback soil centipede

  Geophilus vittatus, commonly known as the diamondback soil centipede, is a widespread soil-dwelling centipede in North America. It is named for the distinctive dark band of diamond-shaped markings across its back. The species reaches up to 52 mm in length and possesses 49–53 leg pairs in females and 49–51 in males. It is one of the most frequently observed soil centipedes in its range, with over 950 documented observations.

  soil-centipedegeophilidNorth-Americadiamondback-patternsoil-fauna

• Glandulariini

  Glandulariini is a tribe of minute rove beetles within the subfamily Pselaphinae. Members are characterized by complex glandular structures on the abdomen, from which the tribe derives its name. These beetles are among the smallest staphylinids, often measuring less than 2 mm in length. The tribe contains numerous genera distributed across multiple biogeographic regions.

  rove-beetlespselaphinaeminute-beetlesleaf-litter-faunamyrmecophilesforest-floorglandular-structuresStaphylinidaecryptic-beetlessoil-fauna

• Goniaceritae

  ant-loving beetles

  Goniaceritae is a supertribe of minute ant-loving beetles within the subfamily Pselaphinae (Staphylinidae), established by Edmund Reitter in 1882. The group comprises approximately 16 genera and at least 30 described species, though this is likely an underestimate given ongoing taxonomic work. The type genus is Goniacerus Motschulsky, 1855. Members of this supertribe are myrmecophilous, meaning they are ecologically associated with ants, though the specific nature of these associations varies among genera and species.

  StaphylinidaePselaphinaemyrmecophilyant-loving-beetlesmicrocoleopteralitter-faunasoil-faunaundescribed-diversity

• Gosibius

  Gosibius is a genus of lithobiomorph centipedes in the family Lithobiidae, established by Chamberlin in 1912. Members of this genus are epigean (surface-dwelling) stone centipedes found primarily in eastern Asia. Like other lithobiids, they possess 15 pairs of legs as adults and are fast-moving predators of small invertebrates. The genus contains multiple described species, though comprehensive taxonomic revision remains incomplete.

  centipedelithobiidaemyriapodpredatorasiasoil-fauna

• Gozmanyina

  Gozmanyina is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Cosmochthoniidae, established by Balogh & Mahunka in 1983. The genus contains at least three described species: G. golosovae, G. majestus, and G. pehuen. These mites belong to the diverse group of soil-dwelling microarthropods commonly known as moss mites or beetle mites.

  oribatidmitesoil-faunamicroarthropod

• Guthriella

  Guthriella is a genus of springtails in the family Isotomidae, first described by Carl Börner in 1906. The genus belongs to the order Entomobryomorpha, one of the largest and most diverse groups of Collembola. Very little published information exists on this genus, and no observations are recorded in major biodiversity databases. Its species appear to be poorly documented in modern literature.

  CollembolaIsotomidaeEntomobryomorphaspringtailssoil-faunaEuropean-faunaobscure-genuspoorly-known

• Guthriella muskegis

  Guthriella muskegis is a species of springtail in the family Isotomidae. It is a member of the genus Guthriella, which contains relatively few described species. Like other Isotomidae, it is a soil-dwelling hexapod with a furcula for jumping. Published records of this species are sparse.

  springtailCollembolasoil-fauna

• Gymnodamaeoidea

  A superfamily of oribatid mites within the order Sarcoptiformes, established by Grandjean in 1954. Members are primarily soil-dwelling microarthropods found in forest litter, mosses, decaying wood, and organic and mineral soil layers. The group includes genera such as Licnodamaeus, Plesiodamaeus, Pedrocortesella, and Pleodamaeus. Species exhibit distinctive cerotegumental ornamentation and setal patterns useful for identification.

  oribatid-mitessoil-faunaPalaearcticsteppeforest-littercerotegumentmicroarthropodsdecomposer-habitat

• Gymnodamaeus

  Gymnodamaeus is a genus of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) in the family Gymnodamaeidae, first described by Kulczynski in 1902. The genus contains multiple species distributed across various regions, with recent taxonomic work describing new species from Austria. As members of the diverse oribatid mite fauna, these mites contribute to soil ecosystem processes. The genus is classified within the superfamily Gymnodamaeoidea.

  oribatid-mitessoil-faunaGymnodamaeidaeGymnodamaeoideaTyrolAustriamitesAcariSarcoptiformesOribatidamicroarthropodsedaphic-fauna

• Gyrohypnus

  Gyrohypnus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, described by William Elford Leach in 1819. The genus contains approximately 35 recognized species with a cosmopolitan distribution. Members belong to the tribe Xantholinini within the subfamily Staphylininae. These beetles are small to medium-sized predatory insects commonly found in soil and leaf litter habitats.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaeXantholininisoil-faunapredatory-beetle

• Haplozetidae

  Haplozetidae is a family of oribatid mites (Sarcoptiformes) established by Grandjean in 1936. The family contains at least 20 genera and approximately 210 described species. Members of this family are primarily soil-dwelling microarthropods found in litter and upper soil strata across diverse geographic regions.

  oribatid-mitessoil-faunamicroarthropodslitter-fauna

• Hemisotoma aquae

  Hemisotoma aquae is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Isotomidae, described by Bacon in 1914. The species epithet "aquae" (Latin for "of water") suggests an association with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. Springtails in this family are generally small, elongate hexapods that inhabit soil and litter layers. This species is rarely recorded, with limited observational data available.

  CollembolaIsotomidaespringtailsoil-fauna

• Hermanniella

  Hermanniella is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Hermanniellidae, established by Berlese in 1908. These mites are small arachnids that inhabit soil and litter environments. The genus has been documented from Europe and Turkey, with species such as H. picea and H. dolosa recorded in Turkish fauna.

  oribatid-mitesoil-faunadecomposer

• Hermanniellidae

  Hermanniellidae is a family of oribatid mites (order Sarcoptiformes) containing approximately 9 genera and at least 50 described species. The family was established by Grandjean in 1934 and belongs to the superfamily Hermannielloidea within the group Pycnonoticae. Genera include Hermanniella, Hermannobates, Ampullobates, and Sacculobates, among others.

  mitesoribatidssoil-faunadecomposers

• Hermanniidae

  Hermanniidae is a family of oribatid mites in the order Sarcoptiformes, containing at least three genera—Hermannia, Neohermannia, and Galapagacarus—with approximately 80 described species. Members are primarily soil-dwelling mites with holarctic and pantropical distributions, including significant diversity in Australian wet forests and the Philippines. The family is characterized by stocky body morphology and distinctive setal arrangements that vary among species.

  mitesoribatidssoil-faunadecomposerssymbiotic-bacteriaArcticAustraliaPhilippinesmorphological-ontogeny

• Hesperentomon

  Hesperentomon is a genus of minute, soil-dwelling proturans established by Price in 1960. The genus comprises at least 14 described species distributed primarily across Asia, including China, Japan, and Central Asian regions. As members of the family Hesperentomidae, these hexapods lack eyes and antennae, and possess unique abdominal appendages characteristic of the class Protura. Most species have been described since the 1980s, reflecting ongoing taxonomic work on this understudied group.

  proturasoil-faunamicroarthropodAsiaedentatahexapod

• Heteraphorura subtenuis

  Heteraphorura subtenuis is a species of springtail in the family Onychiuridae, first described by Folsom in 1917. It belongs to the order Poduromorpha, a group of small, soil-dwelling hexapods. The genus Heteraphorura is characterized by specific morphological features of the furcula and body chaetotaxy. This species has been documented from North American localities with limited observational records.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunaPoduromorphaOnychiuridaeNorth-America

• Heterosminthurus

  Heterosminthurus is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Bourletiellidae, established by Stach in 1955. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. Members of this genus are globular springtails, characteristic of the order Symphypleona. Species-level taxonomy has been revised multiple times, with many descriptions published by Bretfeld and Zöllner in 2000.

  springtailsCollembolaSymphypleonaBourletiellidaeglobular-springtailssoil-fauna

• Holotrochus

  Holotrochus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Osoriinae, established by Erichson in 1839. Members of this genus are small to minute beetles characterized by reduced or absent eyes, a trait common among Osoriinae that inhabit soil and leaf litter environments. The genus is distinguished within Osoriini by particular arrangements of pronotal and elytral setae and specific configurations of the mouthparts. Species are found in various regions but detailed biological information remains limited for most taxa.

  rove-beetlesoil-faunaStaphylinidaeOsoriinaedecomposerlitter-dwelling

• Homaeotarsus badius

  Homaeotarsus badius is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Gravenhorst in 1802. It is recorded from eastern North America, with distribution records spanning Canada (Ontario, Quebec) and the eastern and central United States. As a member of the subfamily Paederinae, it belongs to a diverse group of predatory beetles commonly found in soil and leaf litter habitats.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaePaederinaeNorth-AmericaColeopterasoil-faunaleaf-litterpredatory-beetle

• Homidia socia

  Homidia socia is a species of slender springtail described by Denis in 1929. It belongs to the family Entomobryidae, a diverse group of elongate-bodied springtails characterized by well-developed furculae. The species has been documented across multiple regions including Caribbean mainland, Continental Southeast Asia, Hawaii, and North America. Like other members of its genus, it inhabits soil and leaf litter environments where it contributes to decomposition processes.

  springtailCollembolaEntomobryidaesoil-faunadecomposer

• Hubbardia belkini

  Belkin's Short-tailed Whipscorpion

  Hubbardia belkini is a species of short-tailed whipscorpion in the family Hubbardiidae. It is one of several species in the genus Hubbardia, which is endemic to the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species was described in 1957 and is known from limited collection records. Short-tailed whipscorpions are small, cryptic arachnids that inhabit moist microhabitats in arid and semi-arid regions.

  arachnidschizomidshort-tailed-whipscorpionmicroarthropodcrypticsoil-fauna

• Hybos

  dance flies

  Hybos is a genus of small predatory dance flies in the family Hybotidae, comprising approximately 242 described species globally. The genus is distinguished by morphological features including short vein Rs, long cell cup, separated eyes in most species, a spine-like proboscis, and notably thickened hind femora bearing ventral bristles. Species occur across the Palaearctic and Oriental realms, with highest diversity in Asia. Adults are active predators of small flying insects, while larvae are soil-dwelling and predate on invertebrates.

  Hybotidaedance-fliespredatory-fliesDipteraPalaearcticOrientalsoil-faunagenome-sequencedH.-culiciformisH.-grossipesH.-femoratus

• Hymenaphorura

  Hymenaphorura is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Onychiuridae, established by Bagnall in 1948. Members of this genus are eyeless, euedaphic (soil-dwelling) or troglobitic (cave-dwelling) species with reduced pigmentation. The genus has been recorded from caves and subterranean habitats across Europe, with some species showing narrow endemic distributions restricted to single cave systems.

  springtailCollembolacavesubterraneanOnychiuridaetroglobiteendemicsoil-faunaeuedaphic

• Hymenaphorura cocklei

  Golden Snow Flea

  Hymenaphorura cocklei is a species of springtail in the family Onychiuridae, commonly known as the Golden Snow Flea. It is an eyeless, soil-dwelling collembolan with a characteristic golden-yellow coloration. The species is primarily recorded from western North America, particularly in forested mountainous regions. It belongs to a genus distinguished by specialized mouthpart structures and reduced pigmentation.

  Collembolaspringtailsoil-faunasnow-fleawestern-North-Americawinter-active

• Hypogastrura

  snow fleas

  Hypogastrura is a large genus of springtails in the family Hypogastruridae, comprising at least 150 described species with a cosmopolitan distribution. The genus includes the well-known "snow fleas" such as Hypogastrura nivicola, which are conspicuous on snow surfaces in winter. Members are small, typically 1–3 mm, with the characteristic springtail body plan including a furcula for jumping and a ventral collophore. The genus occupies diverse habitats from Arctic tundra to caves and forest floors.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunadecomposersnow-fleacryophiliccave-dwellingnuisance-pestArcticmoisture-dependent

• Hypogastrura manubrialis

  Mushroom Springtail

  Hypogastrura manubrialis is a species of springtail in the family Hypogastruridae, commonly known as the Mushroom Springtail. It belongs to the order Poduromorpha, a group characterized by elongated body forms and reduced or absent jumping ability compared to other springtail lineages. The species has been documented in colonization studies, though detailed biological information remains limited. Like other members of its genus, it likely inhabits moist soil and organic matter environments.

  CollembolaspringtailPoduromorphaHypogastruridaesoil-fauna

• Hypogastrura tooliki

  toolik snow flea

  Hypogastrura tooliki, commonly known as the toolik snow flea, is a species of springtail in the family Hypogastruridae. It belongs to the genus Hypogastrura, which contains species often found active on snow surfaces during winter months. The species was described by Fjellberg in 1985. Like other members of its genus, it possesses cryoprotectant proteins that enable activity in subfreezing conditions.

  springtailsnow-fleaArcticAlaskacryophilicsoil-faunaCollembola

• Hypoponera opaciceps

  Granulate Crypt Ant

  Hypoponera opaciceps is a small, cryptobiotic ant species in the subfamily Ponerinae. It is widely distributed across the Neotropics, including the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, with records extending to the Galápagos Islands. The species is primarily subterranean or leaf-litter dwelling, making it infrequently observed despite its broad range. Seven subspecies have been described, reflecting considerable geographic variation across its distribution.

  cryptobioticleaf-litter-antsubterraneanNeotropicalPonerinaesoil-fauna

• Isotoma

  Waterfall Springtails

  Isotoma is a genus of springtails (Collembola) and the type genus of the family Isotomidae. These small, wingless hexapods are commonly known as Waterfall Springtails. The genus contains multiple species distributed across various habitats, with some species studied for their dietary biology and metabolic responses. Springtails in this genus possess the characteristic furcula (springing organ) that enables their common name.

  springtailsCollembolaIsotomidaehexapodssoil-fauna

• Isotoma arctica

  Isotoma arctica is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Isotomidae, first described by H. Schött in 1893. The species epithet 'arctica' indicates its association with Arctic regions. Springtails are small, wingless hexapods that play important roles in soil decomposition and nutrient cycling. As a member of the genus Isotoma, it likely exhibits the elongated body form typical of this group, though specific morphological details for this species require direct examination of type specimens or specialized literature.

  CollembolaspringtailArcticIsotomidaesoil-faunadecomposer

• Isotoma delta

  Isotoma delta is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Isotomidae, described by MacGillivray in 1896. It belongs to the order Entomobryomorpha, one of the most diverse groups of springtails. The species has been recorded from the Caribbean mainland and southern North America based on distribution data in GBIF.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunaHexapoda

• Isotoma riparia

  Isotoma riparia is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Isotomidae, first described by Nicolet in 1842. The specific epithet 'riparia' refers to its association with riparian (riverbank) habitats. It belongs to a diverse genus of elongate-bodied springtails commonly found in moist terrestrial environments. The species has a broad distribution across Arctic, sub-Arctic, and temperate regions of Europe and northern Eurasia.

  springtailCollembolariparianArcticEuropesoil-fauna

• Isotoma viridis

  Green springtail

  Isotoma viridis is an elongate-bodied springtail species in the family Isotomidae, first described by Bourlet in 1839. It has a Holarctic distribution and is commonly found in meadows and agricultural fields. The species feeds on fungal hyphae and decaying leaves, playing a role in soil decomposition processes.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunadecomposerHolarctic

• Isotoma viridis pomona

  Isotoma viridis pomona is a subspecies of springtail described by J.W. Folsom in 1937. It belongs to the family Isotomidae, a diverse group of elongate-bodied springtails. Records indicate presence on several Azorean islands (Pico, São Miguel, Terceira) as well as in Arctic, Sub-arctic, and African Indian Desert regions. As a subspecies of the widespread Isotoma viridis, it likely shares the general ecology of this soil-dwelling group, though specific biological details for this particular subspecies remain poorly documented.

  CollembolaspringtailIsotomidaesoil-faunasubspeciesAzoresArcticFolsom-1937

• Isotomidae

  Smooth Springtails

  Isotomidae is a large family of springtails in the order Entomobryomorpha, characterized by elongated, smooth-bodied forms. The family contains approximately 109 genera and is distributed across the Holarctic region and globally. Members are typically found in soil, leaf litter, and under bark, where they contribute to decomposition processes. The family has been subject to taxonomic revision, with subfamily-level classifications undergoing reevaluation based on molecular phylogenetics.

  springtailsCollembolasoil-faunadecomposersdetritivores

• Isotomiella

  Isotomiella is a genus of springtails (Collembola: Isotomidae) established by Bagnall in 1939. The genus contains edaphic (soil-dwelling) species with broad Holarctic distribution. The most studied species, Isotomiella minor, exhibits parthenogenetic reproduction and shows significant intraspecific genetic and physiological variation across urban and natural habitats.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunaedaphicparthenogeneticHolarctic

• Isotomiella minor

  Isotomiella minor is an elongate-bodied springtail (Collembola: Isotomidae) with broad Holarctic distribution beyond the high Arctic. The species is parthenogenetic (thelytokous), with no males known. It exhibits remarkable cryptic genetic diversity, with up to nine molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) recognized that show genetic distances comparable to interspecific levels. Populations display adaptive variation in cold tolerance and body size correlated with habitat temperature.

  springtailCollembolaIsotomidaeparthenogeneticsoil-faunacryptic-speciesHolarcticforest-soilthermal-adaptation

• Isotomurus

  Isotomurus is a genus of elongate-bodied springtails established by Börner in 1903. The genus contains at least 40 described species and is classified in the family Isotomidae. Members are distributed across diverse habitats including desert, tropical, and polar regions. As with other springtails, they possess a furcula for jumping.

  springtailssoil-faunacryptic-diversity

• Isotomurus tricolor

  Isotomurus tricolor is a species of elongate-bodied springtail in the family Isotomidae. The species was described by Packard in 1873 and has been recorded across multiple biogeographic regions including Arctic, subarctic, and North American zones. As a member of the Entomobryomorpha, it possesses the characteristic furcula (springing organ) that defines the Collembola class.

  CollembolaspringtailIsotomidaesoil-faunaelongate-bodied

• Janusius sylvestris

  Janusius sylvestris is a globular springtail species in the family Sminthuridae, characterized by its rounded body form typical of the order Symphypleona. The species has been recorded across northern Eurasia and North America. As with other members of its family, it possesses a furcula (springing organ) for escape locomotion and exhibits the compact, spherical body shape that distinguishes symphypleonan springtails from the more elongate entomobryomorph forms.

  CollembolaSymphypleonaSminthuridaespringtailglobular-springtailsoil-faunaleaf-litter

• Johnstoniana

  Johnstoniana is a genus of mites in the family Johnstonianidae, order Trombidiformes. These mites belong to the group commonly known as velvet mites or water mites, though specific life habits for this genus remain poorly documented. The genus was established by George in 1909 and is distinguished by morphological features of the gnathosoma and leg chaetotaxy. Members are found in terrestrial and freshwater-associated habitats.

  acariparasitengonajohnstonianidaemitessoil-fauna

• Joshuella

  Joshuella is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Gymnodamaeidae, first described by Wallwork in 1972. These mites belong to the diverse group of soil-dwelling microarthropods commonly known as moss mites or beetle mites. The genus is part of the superfamily Gymnodamaeoidea, a group characterized by certain morphological reductions in the adult stage. Records of this genus are sparse, with limited observational data available.

  miteoribatidsoil-faunaGymnodamaeidaemicroarthropoddecomposer

• Julida

  Snake Millipedes

  Julida is an order of millipedes commonly known as snake millipedes due to their long, cylindrical body form. Members typically range from 10–120 mm in length and are characterized by having two pairs of legs per body segment, a trait distinguishing them from centipedes. The order exhibits considerable diversity with 593 species recorded from Europe alone, and includes families such as Julidae, Parajulidae, Blaniulidae, and Zosteractinidae. Many species are important decomposers in forest ecosystems.

  millipedemyriapoddetritivoredecomposersoil-faunaleaf-litter

• Katiannidae

  Katiannidae is a family of globular springtails (order Symphypleona) characterized by their rounded body form and compact antennae. The family contains approximately 20 genera, including the well-known Sminthurinus and Vesicephalus. Members of this family are distributed across diverse biomes worldwide, from tropical forests to polar regions. The family was established by Börner in 1913 and represents a significant lineage within the Katiannoidea superfamily.

  springtailsCollembolaSymphypleonaglobular-springtailssoil-fauna

• Katiannina

  Katiannina is a genus of globular springtails in the family Katiannidae, order Symphypleona. Members of this genus are small, soil-dwelling hexapods characterized by their rounded, compact body form. The genus was established in 1951 and is distributed across North America and parts of East Asia. Katiannina species inhabit leaf litter and soil microhabitats where they contribute to decomposition processes.

  springtailsoil-faunadecomposerglobular-springtailSymphypleona

• Lasioerythraeus

  Lasioerythraeus is a genus of mites in the family Erythraeidae, described by Welbourn and Young in 1987. The genus belongs to the subfamily Erythraeinae within the superfamily Erythraeoidea. Members of this genus are predatory mites in the order Trombidiformes. The genus has been documented in iNaturalist with 59 observations, indicating it is encountered with moderate frequency by naturalists.

  mitesErythraeidaeTrombidiformespredatory-mitessoil-fauna

• Leistus ferruginosus

  Nearctic rusty basket-throat

  Leistus ferruginosus is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the Nearctic rusty basket-throat. It occurs across northern North America, including Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. The species inhabits deciduous forests on moderately moist, somewhat shaded ground. Like other members of the genus Leistus, it is characterized by a distinctive "basket-throat" structure formed by elongated mandibles and associated mouthparts.

  ground-beetleCarabidaeNearcticdeciduous-forestsoil-fauna

• Lepidocyrtus paradoxus

  slender springtail

  Lepidocyrtus paradoxus is a species of slender springtail in the family Entomobryidae, first described by Uzel in 1890. It is one of the most frequently observed springtail species in Europe, with over 1,900 documented observations on iNaturalist. The species belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive scale patterns and body morphology typical of entomobryid springtails.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunaEuropecitizen-science

• Leptoscydmus

  Leptoscydmus is a genus of minute rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scydmaeninae. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Leptoscydmini, a group of small beetles adapted to life in soil and leaf litter microhabitats. The genus was established by Thomas Lincoln Casey in 1897 and contains species distributed in North America. These beetles are part of the diverse scydmaenine fauna that plays roles in decomposer food webs.

  rove-beetlesscydmaeninaesoil-faunaleaf-littercasey-1897north-americaminute-beetlesstaphylinidaeleptoscydmini

• Leptotyphlinae

  Leptotyphlinae is a subfamily of minute rove beetles (Staphylinidae) characterized by extreme miniaturization and subterranean adaptations. Adults are eyeless, wingless, and measure less than 1.8 mm in length. The subfamily contains at least nine genera and 13 species in North America, with records from western states and Florida.

  rove-beetlessubterraneaneyelesswinglessmicroarthropodssoil-faunaleaf-litter

• Liacaridae

  Liacaridae is a family of oribatid mites comprising approximately 7 genera and over 240 described species. Members are small arachnids (adult body length 445–735 μm) characterized by specific morphological features including lamellar and interlamellar setae arrangements. The family includes the fossil genus †Liacarus and extant genera such as Adoristes, Xenillus, and Dorycranosus. Species within this family exhibit sexual dimorphism in body size, with females typically larger than males.

  mitesoribatidssoil-faunaxylophage

• Linopodes

  Linopodes is a cosmopolitan genus of mites in the family Cocceupodidae. These are large mites characterized by oval bodies and extremely elongated first legs. They inhabit diverse terrestrial environments including leaf litter and bark, though their solitary habits and low densities make them infrequently observed despite being common.

  mitesoil-faunaleaf-littercosmopolitan

• Lithobiidae

  stone centipedes

  Lithobiidae is a family of centipedes in the order Lithobiomorpha, commonly known as stone centipedes. Members are characterized by anamorphic development, adding leg pairs with each molt until reaching 15 pairs in adulthood. The family exhibits K-selected life history traits including slow development, long lifespans, and low reproductive output. Lithobiidae has a cosmopolitan distribution with highest diversity in temperate regions.

  centipedestone-centipedeanamorphic-developmentK-selectionforest-floorsoil-faunaLithobiomorpha

• Lithobiomorpha

  Stone Centipedes

  Lithobiomorpha, commonly known as stone centipedes, are an order of anamorphic centipedes characterized by a mature segment count of 15 trunk segments. They lack compound eyes, possessing instead simple ocelli or no eyes in some subterranean species. The order includes two families: Henicopidae and Lithobiidae. Members are primarily found in forest litter and soil habitats across temperate regions worldwide, with significant diversity in China and Europe.

  centipedemyriapodpredatorsoil-faunaforest-littercave-dwellinganamorphic-development

• Lithobius

  stone centipedes, common centipedes, brown centipedes, typical stone centipedes

  Lithobius is a large genus of centipedes in the family Lithobiidae, containing over 500 species and numerous subspecies. Adults possess 18 body segments and 15 pairs of legs, with body lengths ranging from approximately 2–5 cm. The genus was erected by William Elford Leach in 1814 and serves as the type genus for the family Lithobiidae. These centipedes are primarily nocturnal predators found in soil, leaf litter, and beneath stones or bark across temperate regions worldwide.

  centipedemyriapodpredatorsoil-faunanocturnalintroduced-speciescave-dwelling

• Lithobius forficatus

  brown centipede, garden centipede, stone centipede

  Lithobius forficatus is a common stone centipede in the family Lithobiidae, native to Europe but introduced to North America, the Hawaiian Islands, and Colombia. Adults reach 18–30 mm in length with 15 pairs of legs. The species is freeze-tolerant in winter, nocturnal, and an active predator of small invertebrates. It is frequently found in gardens and woodland habitats under stones and decaying wood.

  freeze-tolerancenocturnalpredatorintroduced-speciessoil-faunagarden-invertebrate

• Lobella

  Lobella is a genus of springtails (Collembola: Neanuridae) established by Börner in 1906. The genus includes soil-dwelling species, with Lobella sauteri being a notable bioluminescent species that exhibits a novel ATP-dependent endogenous light production system. Members of this genus are found across multiple biogeographic regions including East Asia and North America.

  bioluminescencesoil-faunalaboratory-modelendogenous-light-production

• Lobella palmeri

  Lobella palmeri is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Neanuridae, described by Wray in 1967. It belongs to the order Poduromorpha, a group of primarily soil-dwelling springtails. The genus Lobella is characterized by distinctive morphological features including a globular body form and reduced furcula. Records indicate this species occurs in North America.

  Collembolaspringtailsoil-faunaNeanuridaeNorth-America

• Lophognathella

  Lophognathella is a genus of springtails in the family Onychiuridae, subfamily Lophognathellinae. These small, wingless hexapods are part of the euedaphic soil fauna, living primarily in deep soil layers. The genus was established by Börner in 1908 and is distributed across northern North America, the Pacific coast of North America, and the Sino-Japanese region. As members of the Onychiuridae, they lack a furcula (springing organ) and are characterized by reduced eyes and elongated mouthparts adapted for feeding in soil micropores.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunaeuedaphicOnychiuridaeLophognathellinaeNorth-AmericaSino-Japanese-regiondeep-soileyelessfurcula-absent

• Lophognathella choreutes

  Lophognathella choreutes is a species of springtail in the family Onychiuridae, first described by Carl Börner in 1908. It belongs to the subfamily Lophognathellinae, a group of euedaphic (deep soil-dwelling) springtails characterized by reduced or absent eyes and elongated mouthparts. The species has been recorded across northern North America, Pacific North America, and the Sino-Japanese region. As with other members of Onychiuridae, it inhabits soil and leaf litter environments where it contributes to decomposition processes.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunaeuedaphicPoduromorphaOnychiuridaedecomposer

• Lophognathellinae

  A subfamily of springtails within the family Onychiuridae, distinguished by modifications of the mouthparts. Members of this group are small, soil-dwelling hexapods that lack a furcula (springing organ) as adults. The subfamily was established by Stach in 1954 based on distinctive gnathal morphology.

  Collembolaspringtailsoil-faunaapterygoteentognathous-mouthparts

• Lucifotychus testaceus

  Lucifotychus testaceus is a minute rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Pselaphinae, commonly referred to as an ant-loving beetle. It is a myrmecophilous species associated with ant colonies. The species is documented from eastern and midwestern North America, with records spanning Canada and the United States.

  myrmecophilousPselaphinaerove-beetleNorth-Americaant-associatedsoil-faunaforest-floor

• Lucoppia

  Lucoppia is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Oribatulidae, established by Berlese in 1908. These mites belong to the diverse group of soil-dwelling microarthropods commonly known as moss mites or beetle mites. As oribatids, they are part of the decomposer community in terrestrial ecosystems. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with limited species-level descriptions and ecological studies available.

  oribatidmitesoil-faunaOribatulidaemicroarthropod

• Mecistocephalidae

  Mecistocephalidae is a monophyletic family of soil-dwelling centipedes constituting the sole family of the monotypic suborder Placodesmata. With approximately 170 species across 11 genera, it ranks as the third most diverse family in Geophilomorpha. The family exhibits a distinctive trait among geophilomorphs: leg-bearing segment numbers are generally fixed within species and identical between sexes, ranging from 41 to 101 pairs. Most species inhabit tropical and subtropical regions, though some extend into temperate zones. The genus Mecistocephalus dominates the family with roughly 130 species, most possessing 49 leg pairs.

  centipedessoil-faunageophilomorphfixed-segment-numbertropicalsubtropicaltemperateJapanTaiwanChinaHimalayaMiddle-Asiasoil-predatorearthworm-predatorbioindicator

• Medon

  Medon is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Paederinae. Species are small, typically found in soil and leaf litter habitats, with some taxa occurring in intertidal zones along coastlines. The genus is distributed across the Palearctic region, with significant diversity in Turkey (23+ species) and East Asia. Several species have been described in recent decades, indicating ongoing taxonomic refinement.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaePaederinaesoil-faunaintertidalPalearctic

• Medonina

  Medonina is a subtribe of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) established by Casey in 1905. As of 2024, it encompasses 49 genera distributed across multiple continents. The subtribe belongs to the tribe Lathrobiini within the subfamily Paederinae. Members are small to medium-sized predatory beetles commonly found in leaf litter, soil, and other decaying organic matter.

  rove-beetlesStaphylinidaePaederinaepredatory-beetlessoil-faunalitter-fauna

• Megalothorax minimus

  Megalothorax minimus is a minute springtail species in the family Neelidae, first described by V. Willem in 1900. It belongs to the order Neelipleona, a small group of highly reduced, globular springtails. The species has been recorded across a broad geographic range including Europe, North America, and several remote regions including the Antarctic and Subantarctic. Its wide distribution suggests either cryptic diversity or remarkable dispersal capabilities for such a small organism.

  springtailCollembolaNeelidaesoil-faunamicroarthropodglobular-springtail

• Melba

  Melba is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. The genus was described by Thomas Lincoln Casey Jr. in 1897. It belongs to the tribe Trichonychini within the diverse and species-rich rove beetle lineage. Members of this genus are small beetles associated with leaf litter and soil habitats.

  StaphylinidaePselaphinaerove-beetleColeopteraleaf-litter-beetleNorth-AmericaCasey-1897TrichonychiniEuplectitaesoil-fauna

• Mesaphorura

  Mesaphorura is a genus of springtails in the family Tullbergiidae, first described by Börner in 1901. Members of this genus are small, soil-dwelling hexapods characterized by reduced or absent eyes and elongated body forms. They are distributed across multiple continents including Antarctica, South America, Africa, and North America, indicating broad ecological tolerance. The genus is taxonomically placed within the subfamily Mesaphorurinae.

  soil-faunaspringtailmicroarthropodcosmopolitan-distribution

• Mesaphorura macrochaeta

  Mesaphorura macrochaeta is a species of springtail in the family Tullbergiidae, described by Rusek in 1976. It belongs to the genus Mesaphorura, a group of small, soil-dwelling collembolans characterized by reduced or absent eyes and a furcula adapted for jumping. The species has been recorded across multiple continents including polar, temperate, and tropical regions, suggesting broad environmental tolerance or potential cryptic diversity. Like other members of its family, it inhabits soil and leaf litter microhabitats.

  springtailsoil-faunaCollembolaPoduromorphaTullbergiidae

• Mesaphorura yosiii

  Mesaphorura yosiii is a species of minute springtail in the family Tullbergiidae. First described from Japan in 1967, it has since been recorded across widely disjunct regions including desert and tropical ecosystems. The species belongs to a genus characterized by reduced or absent eyes and elongated body form. Like other members of Tullbergiidae, it inhabits soil and litter layers.

  Collembolaspringtailsoil-faunaTullbergiidaeeyeless

• Mesentotoma near-dollfusi

  Mesentotoma near-dollfusi is a species of globular springtail in the family Sminthuridae. It belongs to a genus of small, soft-bodied hexapods characterized by a compact, rounded body form. Records indicate this species occurs in the Near East region, with documented presence in Iran. The specific epithet "near-dollfusi" suggests morphological similarity to M. dollfusi, a related species described from the Mediterranean region.

  CollembolaSymphypleonaSminthuridaeNear-EastIranglobular-springtailsoil-fauna

• Mesostigmata

  Mesostigs

  Mesostigmata is the largest order of mites in the Parasitiformes, comprising over 8,000 species in 130 families. The group exhibits remarkable ecological diversity, including free-living predators in soil and litter, parasites of vertebrates and arthropods, fungus feeders, and pollen consumers. Many species serve as important biological control agents in agricultural systems, while others such as Varroa destructor are significant economic pests of honey bees. The order is distinguished morphologically by a single pair of lateral spiracles and associated peritrematal grooves.

  mitespredatory-mitesparasitic-mitessoil-faunabiological-controlhoney-bee-pestsagricultural-pestsphoresyParasitiformes

• Metajapyx

  Metajapyx is a genus of forcepstails (japygids) in the family Japygidae, first described by Silvestri in 1932. The genus contains more than 30 described species. Members are small, soil-dwelling hexapods characterized by their distinctive pincer-like cerci at the abdomen tip. Like other japygids, they are predatory and primarily inhabit moist soil and leaf litter environments.

  soil-faunapredatorhexapodcrypticforcepstail

• Micrisotoma achromata

  Micrisotoma achromata is a species of springtail in the family Isotomidae, described by P.F. Bellinger in 1952. It belongs to a genus characterized by small body size and reduced pigmentation. The species has been recorded across multiple continents including North America, Eurasia, and Malaysia, suggesting either a broad natural distribution or potential cryptic species complexity. Like other isotomids, it inhabits soil and leaf litter environments.

  springtailCollembolaIsotomidaesoil-faunadecomposerpalearcticnearcticoriental

• Microgastrura

  Microgastrura is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Hypogastruridae, established by Stach in 1922. The genus comprises seven described species distributed across the Caribbean, Europe, the Mediterranean, and North America. As members of Poduromorpha, these springtails are characterized by a compact body form and reduced furcula. Species-level identification requires examination of chaetotaxy and other fine morphological details.

  springtailsCollembolaPoduromorphasoil-faunamicroarthropods

• Mipseltyrus

  ant-loving beetles

  Mipseltyrus is a genus of minute rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae, commonly referred to as ant-loving beetles. The genus was established by Orlando Park in 1953 and currently includes four described species. Members of this genus are myrmecophilous, meaning they live in association with ant colonies. These beetles are small, compact, and morphologically specialized for life in soil and leaf litter environments.

  myrmecophilepselaphinaerove-beetleNorth-Americasoil-fauna

• Mixonomata

  Mixonomata is an infraorder of oribatid mites within the order Sarcoptiformes, established by Grandjean in 1969. This group comprises soil-dwelling mites characterized by a distinctive mix of morphological features that separate them from other oribatid lineages. Members of Mixonomata are primarily found in forest litter and soil habitats where they contribute to decomposition processes. The infraorder includes several families and represents a significant component of microarthropod diversity in terrestrial ecosystems.

  mitesoribatidssoil-faunadecomposersmicroarthropods

• Mochloribatula texana

  Mochloribatula texana is a species of oribatid mite in the family Mochlozetidae. First described by Ewing in 1909, this species belongs to a group of soil-dwelling mites commonly known as beetle mites or box mites. Oribatid mites play important roles in decomposition and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. The specific epithet "texana" suggests a connection to Texas, though the full geographic range remains incompletely documented.

  oribatidmitesoil-faunadecomposerdata-deficientNorth-AmericanTexas-endemic?

• Mochlozetidae

  Mochlozetidae is a family of oribatid mites (beetle mites) in the order Sarcoptiformes, established by Grandjean in 1960. The family comprises approximately 12 genera and at least 50 described species. These mites are classified within the superfamily Oripodoidea and the group Poronoticae. They are part of the diverse soil-dwelling microarthropod fauna that contributes to decomposition processes.

  mitesoribatidasoil-faunadecomposersmicroarthropods

• Moriuss occidens

  Moriuss occidens is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It belongs to the tribe Trichonychini and is one of very few species in the genus Moriuss. The species was described by Casey in 1893 and is known from California. Pselaphine beetles are generally small, cryptic, and associated with leaf litter and soil habitats.

  StaphylinidaePselaphinaeTrichonychiniCalifornia-endemicant-loving-beetleleaf-litter-faunasoil-fauna

• Morulina

  Morulina is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Neanuridae, subfamily Morulininae. The genus contains approximately 11 described species distributed across multiple continents. Members of this genus are characterized by their distinctive body ornamentation and are part of the diverse soil-dwelling microarthropod fauna.

  springtailssoil-faunamicroarthropodsCollembolaNeanuridae

• Morulina callowayia

  Morulina callowayia is a species of springtail in the family Neanuridae, first described by Wray in 1953. It belongs to the genus Morulina, which is characterized by a distinctive body ornamentation pattern of tubercles or granules. The species is found in North America, with records from both northern and southern regions of the continent. As with other members of the Neanuridae, it is a soil-dwelling microarthropod.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunaNorth-America

• Morulina delicata

  Morulina delicata is a species of springtail in the family Neanuridae, described by E.C. Bernard in 2006. It belongs to the subfamily Morulininae, a group characterized by distinctive body ornamentation and reduced or absent furcula. The species is known from Pacific North America. Springtails in this genus are typically found in soil and leaf litter habitats where they contribute to decomposition processes.

  springtailCollembolaNeanuridaeMorulininaesoil-faunadecomposerPacific-North-America

• Morulina multatuberculata

  Morulina multatuberculata is a species of springtail in the family Neanuridae, described by Coleman in 1941. It belongs to the order Poduromorpha, a group of ground-dwelling springtails. The species epithet 'multatuberculata' suggests a tuberculate body surface, a characteristic feature of the genus Morulina.

  springtailCollembolaPoduromorphaNeanuridaeMorulinatuberculatePacific-North-AmericaColeman-1941ground-dwellingsoil-faunamicroarthropodMorulininaeentognathous-hexapod

• Morulodes setosus

  Morulodes setosus is a species of springtail in the family Neanuridae, described by Canby in 1926. It belongs to the order Poduromorpha, one of the three main lineages of Collembola. The species epithet 'setosus' refers to the presence of setae (bristle-like hairs). As a member of the tribe Morulodini, it shares characteristics with other neanurid springtails that exhibit distinctive body ornamentation and reduced furcula. The genus Morulodes is part of the diverse soil-dwelling microarthropod fauna of North America.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunaNeanuridaeNorth-AmericaPoduromorphaMorulodinimicroarthropod

• Nannaria

  Twisted-Claw Millipedes

  Nannaria is a genus of small-bodied millipedes in the family Xystodesmidae, commonly known as twisted-claw millipedes. First described by Ralph Chamberlin in 1918, it is now the largest genus in its family with 78 described species following major revisions in 2022. The genus comprises two monophyletic species groups: the widespread minor group found throughout eastern North America, and the wilsoni group restricted to the Appalachian Mountains. Unlike many colorful, flat-backed xystodesmids, Nannaria species are cryptic in appearance and exhibit subterranean behavior that makes them difficult to collect.

  millipedediplopodapolydesmidaxystodesmidaeappalachiancrypticsubterraneandecomposerleaf-littersoil-fauna

• Nanorchestidae

  Nanorchestidae is a family of small soil-dwelling mites in the order Endeostigmata. The family contains two recognized genera, Nanorchestes and Speleorchestes, which show distinct ecological partitioning: Nanorchestes dominates cold desert and polar habitats, while Speleorchestes inhabits hot deserts. This distribution correlates with structural differences in the cuticle. Members of this family may achieve high numerical abundance in extreme desert soils.

  mitessoil-faunaextremophilesdesert-ecologypolar-biologycuticular-respiration

• Neanura magna

  Bear-bodied Springtail

  Neanura magna, commonly known as the bear-bodied springtail, is a species of springtail in the family Neanuridae. Springtails (Collembola) are small, wingless hexapods that inhabit soil and leaf litter. The common name suggests a robust or stocky body form compared to other springtails. As a member of Poduromorpha, this species possesses the furcula (springing organ) characteristic of the group, though it is reduced or absent in some Neanuridae.

  Collembolaspringtailsoil-faunaPoduromorphaNeanuridae

• Neanurini

  Neanurini is a tribe of springtails (Collembola) within the family Neanuridae, established by Börner in 1901. Members of this tribe are characterized by their reduced or absent furcula (springing organ), distinguishing them from many other springtail groups. They are part of the diverse soil-dwelling microarthropod fauna found across various terrestrial habitats. The tribe contains multiple genera distributed primarily in the Holarctic region.

  Collembolaspringtailssoil-faunamicroarthropodsPoduromorphaNeanuridaeHolarctic

• Nearctodesmus

  Nearctodesmus is a genus of small millipedes in the order Polydesmida, family Nearctodesmidae. These millipedes are characterized by their flattened bodies and reduced segmentation. The genus was established by Silvestri in 1910 and is primarily distributed in the Nearctic region. Members of this genus are part of the diverse soil fauna and contribute to decomposition processes in forest ecosystems.

  millipedediplopodapolydesmidadetritivoresoil-faunanearctic

• Neelus

  Neelus is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Neelidae, established by Folsom in 1896. The genus contains both surface-dwelling and troglobiotic (cave-restricted) species. Several species exhibit troglomorphic adaptations including elongated unguis (claws), larger body size, and elongated antennal sensilla. The genus has a broad geographic distribution spanning Europe, North America, and Asia, with notable cave-dwelling diversity in the Balkans.

  springtailCollembolacave-dwellingtroglobioticsoil-fauna

• Neelus murinus

  Neelus murinus is a species of springtail in the family Neelidae, first described by J.W. Folsom in 1896. It belongs to the order Neelipleona, one of the four recognized orders of Collembola. The species has been documented from island localities in the Azores (Pico, São Jorge, São Miguel, Terceira) and from the Antillean region and southern Florida. As a member of the Neelidae, it is among the smallest springtails, characterized by reduced body size and simplified morphology.

  springtailCollembolaNeelipleonaNeelidaemicroarthropodsoil-fauna

• Neokatianna

  Neokatianna is a genus of globular springtails in the family Katiannidae, established by R.J. Snider in 1989. These minute hexapods belong to the order Symphypleona, characterized by their rounded, compact body form. The genus is known from southern North America, though specific species-level documentation remains limited. As with other katiannids, members of this genus inhabit soil and leaf litter microhabitats.

  springtailglobular-springtailsoil-faunaleaf-litter

• Neokatianna acantholaema

  Neokatianna acantholaema is a species of globular springtail in the family Katiannidae, described by R.J. Snider in 1989. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded, globular body form. The species is known from southern North America and has been documented through 34 iNaturalist observations. As with other members of Katiannidae, it likely inhabits soil and leaf litter environments, though specific ecological details remain limited.

  CollembolaSymphypleonaKatiannidaeNeokatiannaspringtailglobular-springtailsoil-faunaNorth-America

• Neoliodoidea

  Neoliodoidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites within the order Sarcoptiformes. These mites are part of the diverse soil-dwelling microarthropod fauna, contributing to decomposition processes. The group is relatively poorly studied compared to other oribatid superfamilies, with limited species-level documentation.

  oribatid-mitessoil-faunadecomposersmicroarthropodsSarcoptiformes

• Neolithobius

  Neolithobius is a genus of stone centipedes in the family Lithobiidae. The genus was established by Stuxberg in 1875 and is distinguished by specific morphological features of the forcipules and tergites. Members are medium-sized lithobiomorph centipedes found in certain regions of Eurasia. The genus is relatively poorly known compared to the closely related Lithobius, with limited published ecological or behavioral data.

  centipedemyriapodsoil-faunaLithobiidaeLithobiomorpha

• Neomolgus

  snout mites

  Neomolgus is a genus of predatory snout mites in the family Bdellidae, containing more than 20 described species. Members are recognized by their elongated snout-like rostrum used in prey capture. Several species have been investigated or employed as biological control agents against collembolan pests, particularly Sminthurus viridis (lucerne flea). The genus exhibits cool-humid habitat preferences and temperature-dependent developmental rates.

  biological-controlpredatory-mitesoil-faunapasture-pest-managementCollembola-predator

• Nisaxis

  Nisaxis is a genus of ant-loving beetles (myrmecophiles) in the family Staphylinidae, established by Casey in 1886. The genus comprises at least four described species distributed across North America. As members of the subfamily Pselaphinae, these beetles are minute, compact rove beetles associated with ant colonies. The genus is classified within the tribe Brachyglutini.

  myrmecophilerove-beetlePselaphinaeNorth-Americasoil-fauna

• Nyctunguis

  Nyctunguis is a genus of soil-dwelling centipedes in the family Schendylidae, order Geophilomorpha. These elongate, multi-legged arthropods inhabit subterranean environments. The genus was established by Chamberlin in 1914 and contains multiple described species.

  centipedesoil-faunaGeophilomorphaSchendylidaemyriapodfossorial

• Ochrogramma bentona

  Ochrogramma bentona is a millipede species in the family Caseyidae, order Chordeumatida. It was described by Chamberlin in 1952. The species is known from North America and belongs to a group of small-bodied millipedes commonly called "snake millipedes" or "bristly millipedes" due to their elongated, slender form and setose bodies. Like other chordeumatidans, it likely inhabits moist forest floor habitats.

  millipedeDiplopodaChordeumatidaCaseyidaeNorth-Americasoil-faunadecomposer

• Ocypus

  Ocypus is a genus of rove beetles in the subfamily Staphylininae, containing approximately 176 described species distributed across the Palearctic, Nearctic, and Oriental regions. The genus includes the well-known Ocypus olens (devil's coach-horse beetle), a large, predatory species with documented potential for biological control of pest snails. Several species have been introduced outside their native ranges, including O. nitens, which has established in North America and shown rapid range expansion. The genus exhibits considerable diversity in China, with numerous species described from Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan, and other provinces.

  rove-beetlesStaphylinidaepredatorsbiological-controladventive-speciessoil-faunalitter-faunaChina-biodiversityNorth-America-introduced-species

• Onychiurinae

  Onychiurinae is a subfamily of springtails (Collembola) in the family Onychiuridae, established by Börner in 1901. Members are characterized by reduced or absent eyes and the presence of a ventral tube (collophore) with distinct structures. The subfamily is primarily soil-dwelling and includes numerous genera distributed across temperate regions. Many species are blind and adapted to subterranean or deep soil habitats.

  soil-faunaeuedaphicmicroarthropodblind-springtaildecomposer

• Onychiuroidea

  Onychiuroidea is a superfamily of springtails (Collembola) within the order Poduromorpha. It comprises approximately five families and over 630 described species. The superfamily includes the well-known family Onychiuridae and several smaller families whose classification has been subject to revision. Members of this group are soil-dwelling hexapods characterized by reduced or absent furcula (springing organ).

  springtailsCollembolasoil-faunaeuedaphic

• Onychiurus

  springtails

  Onychiurus is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Onychiuridae with cosmopolitan distribution. The genus contains numerous species, including both surface-dwelling forms in forest soils and agricultural fields, as well as specialized cave-dwelling species. Members of this genus have been extensively studied as indicators of soil health and pesticide impacts.

  springtailsCollembolasoil-faunabioindicatorcave-dwellingpesticide-toxicity

• Opilioacaroidea

  mite harvestmen, opilioacarid mites

  Opilioacaroidea is a small superfamily of arachnids comprising the single family Opilioacaridae, with approximately 25 described species. These organisms represent a phylogenetically significant group, often considered the most primitive living mites due to their retention of ancestral chelicerate characteristics. They occupy an intermediate position between mites and harvestmen (Opiliones), exhibiting morphological features of both groups. Their restricted distribution and specialized habitat requirements make them among the least studied arachnids.

  arachnidmitesoil-faunacave-faunaprimitivetropicalkarstpredator

• Oppiidae

  Oppiidae is a large and diverse family of oribatid mites comprising over 1000 described species. These microarthropods inhabit soil and litter layers across varied terrestrial ecosystems worldwide, from coastal sands to forest floors and grasslands. The family is taxonomically complex with numerous genera, many of which have restricted distributions or are poorly studied in particular regions such as Mongolia and Korea.

  mitesoribatidssoil-faunamicroarthropodsdecomposersedaphicSarcoptiformesOribatida

• Oppioidea

  Oppioidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites within the order Sarcoptiformes. Members are primarily soil-dwelling microarthropods characterized by specific morphological features of the pycnonotic group. The superfamily includes families such as Epimerellidae, which contain halophilic species adapted to saline littoral environments.

  oribatid-mitessoil-faunahalophilicmicroarthropodsPalaearctic

• Orchesella flora

  Orchesella flora is a species of slender springtail described by Christiansen and Tucker in 1977. It belongs to the family Orchesellidae within the order Entomobryomorpha. The species is native to southern North America. As a collembolan, it is a small, wingless hexapod that inhabits soil and leaf litter environments.

  springtailcollembolasoil-fauna

• Orchesella texensis

  Orchesella texensis is a species of springtail (Collembola) described by Snider in 1997. It belongs to the family Orchesellidae, a group of relatively large and elongate springtails. The species is known from southern North America, with the specific epithet suggesting a Texas origin. Like other members of its genus, it likely inhabits soil and leaf litter environments.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunaNorth-America

• Oribotritia

  Oribotritia is a genus of oribatid mites (also known as beetle mites or moss mites) in the family Oribotritiidae. The genus was established by Jacot in 1924 and contains at least three described species. Oribatid mites in this group are soil-dwelling microarthropods that contribute to decomposition processes.

  miteoribatidsoil-faunadecomposermicroarthropod

• Oribotritiidae

  Oribotritiidae is a family of ptyctimous oribatid mites in the order Oribatida. The family includes the genus Austrotritia, which has a primarily Gondwanan distribution across the Oriental, Australian, and southeastern Palaearctic Regions. The European species Austrotritia finlandica, endemic to the southwestern archipelago of Finland, represents the only known European occurrence of this genus. Records from GBIF indicate presence in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

  mitesoribatidsptyctimoussoil-faunaGondwanan-distribution

• Oripodoidea

  Oripodoidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) established by Jacot in 1925. It comprises approximately 19 families and at least 1,300 described species, making it one of the most diverse superfamilies within the suborder Oribatida. Members are classified within the infraorder Brachypylina and cohort Poronoticae.

  mitesoribatidssoil-faunasuperfamilyacarology

• Oxypoda acuminata

  Oxypoda acuminata is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. It is a small, inconspicuous beetle with a Palearctic distribution, recorded across much of Europe and extending into Russia and parts of the Caucasus. The species is one of many in the large genus Oxypoda, which contains over 300 described species. Like other aleocharine rove beetles, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and soil habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaeAleocharinaePalearcticsoil-fauna

• Palpigradi

  microwhip scorpion, palpigrade, micro whipscorpion

  Palpigradi is an order of minute arachnids, commonly called microwhip scorpions or palpigrades. They are the sister group to Solifugae (camel spiders), measuring 1–3 mm in length. These pale, thin-bodied arachnids inhabit wet tropical and subtropical soils worldwide, living interstitially in moist microhabitats under stones and in caves. They possess a distinctive multi-segmented flagellum that may comprise half the body length. The order contains two families, Prokoeneniidae and Eukoeneniidae, distinguished by the presence or absence of ventral respiratory sacs.

  arachnidmicroarthropodsoil-faunacave-dwellinginterstitialtropicalflagellum

• Paraphanolophus

  Paraphanolophus is a genus of erythraeid mites in the family Erythraeidae, first described by Smiley in 1968. Members of this genus are predatory mites belonging to the superfamily Erythraeoidea. The genus is characterized by specific morphological modifications of the palpal femur that distinguish it from related genera such as Phanolophus. As with other erythraeid mites, species in this genus are likely active predators in soil and leaf litter habitats, though detailed biological studies remain limited.

  mitesErythraeidaepredatory-mitessoil-faunaTrombidiformesAcariformes

• Parasitidae

  predatory mites, bee mites, beetle mites

  Parasitidae is a family of predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata, representing the sole family in the superfamily Parasitoidea. These mites are relatively large for their group, often appearing yellowish to dark brown in color. The family has worldwide distribution and contains approximately 400 species across 29 genera organized into two subfamilies: Pergamasinae (soil-dwelling, non-phoretic) and Parasitinae (nest-dwelling, phoretic deutonymphs). Members prey on diverse microarthropods and nematodes, with individual species typically exhibiting narrower prey ranges than the family as a whole.

  mitespredatoryphoreticsoil-faunadung-faunadeutonymph-dormancysexual-dimorphismmate-choice

• Parasitina

  Parasitina is a suborder of predatory mites within the order Mesostigmata, characterized by relatively large body size for mites and typically yellowish to dark brown coloration. Members are free-living predators that actively hunt microarthropods and nematodes in soil and litter habitats. The suborder includes the family Parasitidae, which contains approximately 400 species across 29 genera in two subfamilies. Spermatogenesis involves complex cytoskeletal reorganization with distinct roles for F-actin and tubulin in nuclear shaping, acrosome formation, and flagellar development.

  mitespredatorysoil-faunacytoskeletonspermatogenesisMesostigmata

• Parholaspididae

  Parholaspididae is a family of free-living predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata, containing 14 genera and approximately 163 described species. Members are distributed worldwide and occupy diverse terrestrial microhabitats. The family was established by Evans in 1956 and is classified within the superfamily Eviphidoidea.

  mitesMesostigmatasoil-faunacosmopolitanoviparous

• Paronellidae

  Paronellidae is a family of elongate-bodied springtails (Collembola) in the order Entomobryomorpha. The family contains approximately 18 genera and at least 90 described species. Members of this family are primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, with many species adapted to subterranean habitats including caves. The family includes notable troglobitic genera such as Troglobius and Troglopedetes.

  Collembolaspringtailscave-faunatroglobitictropicalsoil-faunasubterranean

• Pauropoda

  pauropodans, pauropods

  Pauropoda is a class of minute, soft-bodied myriapods comprising approximately 900 species across twelve families worldwide. These animals are characterized by reduced leg numbers compared to other myriapods—most adults possess only nine pairs of legs—and distinctive branching antennae. They inhabit soil and leaf litter environments globally, with documented occurrences from tropical regions to subantarctic islands. Pauropods are gonochoric and exhibit hemianamorphosis, adding leg pairs through successive molts until reaching adult form.

  soil-faunamicroarthropoddecomposercryptic-faunamyriapod

• Pauropus

  Pauropus is a genus of minute myriapods in the class Pauropoda. These animals are among the smallest soil-dwelling arthropods, measuring less than 2 mm in length. Pauropus species are characterized by branched antennae and a reduced number of legs compared to other myriapod classes. The genus has been documented across multiple continents including Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

  soil-faunamesofaunadecomposercryptic

• Pauropus huxleyi

  Pauropus huxleyi is a species of minute myriapod in the class Pauropoda, described by Lubbock in 1867. Pauropods are small, soft-bodied arthropods typically less than 2 mm in length, characterized by 9–11 pairs of legs and distinctive branched antennae. The species name honors Thomas Henry Huxley, the prominent 19th-century biologist and supporter of Darwin's theory of evolution. P. huxleyi has been recorded across multiple continents including Australia, Europe, and North America.

  pauropodmyriapodsoil-faunamicroarthropodThomas-Henry-Huxley-eponym

• Peloptulus

  Peloptulus is a genus of oribatid mites (family Phenopelopidae) established by Berlese in 1908. These mites belong to the diverse soil-dwelling microarthropod fauna commonly known as moss mites or beetle mites. The genus is documented from Scandinavian countries including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

  mitesoribatidssoil-faunaScandinavia

• Penniverpa festina

  Penniverpa festina is a species of stiletto fly in the family Therevidae, described by Coquillett in 1893. Stiletto flies are predatory as larvae, inhabiting sandy soils where they feed on other invertebrates. Adults are generally found in open, sunny habitats and are known for their slender bodies and distinctive wing venation. This species is part of a diverse genus within a family containing approximately 1,000 described species worldwide.

  TherevidaeDipterastiletto-flypredatory-larvaesoil-fauna

• Pentapria

  Pentapria is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Diapriidae, established by Kieffer in 1905. Members of this genus are part of the diverse Proctotrupomorpha radiation within Hymenoptera. As with other diapriid wasps, species in this genus are likely parasitoids of other insects, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The genus is rarely encountered in field studies and is represented by few observations in citizen science databases.

  parasitoiddiapriidminute-waspsoil-faunaunderstudied-taxon

• Pergamasinae

  Pergamasinae is a subfamily of predatory mites within the family Parasitidae, order Mesostigmata. Members are relatively large for mites and occupy soil and decomposing organic matter habitats. The subfamily includes genera such as Pergamasus and Holoparasitus, with distribution centered in Europe within the broader Holarctic region.

  mitesMesostigmatapredatorysoil-faunadecomposer-systemsEuropean-fauna

• Pergamasus

  Pergamasus is a genus of predatory mites in the family Parasitidae, comprising approximately 70 described species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. These soil-dwelling gamasid mites inhabit forest litter, mosses, and upper soil layers, where they function as generalist predators of small invertebrates. Several species have been documented as predators of tick nymphs, suggesting potential ecological significance in tick population control. The genus exhibits notable morphological diversity, with species groups defined primarily by male genital and leg characters.

  mitesMesostigmataParasitidaepredatorsoil-faunatick-predatorforest-littergamasidbiological-controlCarpathian-endemism

• Phthiracaridae

  Phthiracaridae is a family of ptyctimous oribatid mites within the superfamily Phthiracaroidea. The family comprises approximately 7 genera and at least 710 described species, making it one of the largest families of Euptyctima. Members are characterized by a retractable idiosoma (ptychoidy), a defensive adaptation where the body can fold to protect legs and mouthparts. The family has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution with highest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions.

  mitesoribatidaptyctimoussoil-faunaleaf-litterEuptyctima

• Phthiracaroidea

  ptyctimous mites

  Phthiracaroidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites (ptyctimous mites) characterized by a unique defensive mechanism: the ability to retract their legs and chelicerae into a protective cavity and close the body using a ventral scissure. The group includes families Phthiracaridae, Synichotritiidae, and related taxa. Members are primarily soil-dwelling decomposers found in leaf litter and humus across diverse geographic regions including the Palearctic and Southeast Asia.

  AcariOribatidaptyctimous-mitessoil-faunadecomposerscryptic-behavior

• Phthiracarus

  Phthiracarus is the second largest genus of ptyctimous mites (Euptyctima), with nearly cosmopolitan distribution. The genus belongs to the family Phthiracaridae within the oribatid mites (Oribatida), a diverse group of soil-dwelling arachnids. Species in this genus are primarily found in temperate forest soils and are associated with decomposition processes. Recent taxonomic work has described new species from previously understudied regions including Northeast China.

  mitesoribatidaptyctimoussoil-faunadecompositiontemperate-forestsPalearcticcosmopolitangenus-level

• Pinodytes gibbosus

  Pinodytes gibbosus is a small, eyeless soil-dwelling beetle in the family Leiodidae. It inhabits leaf litter in California and feeds on fungi. The species was formally described in 2011, making it a relatively recent addition to the taxonomic literature. Its lack of eyes and subterranean habits reflect adaptations to a life spent primarily in dark, decomposing organic matter.

  eyelesssubterraneanfungivoreleaf-litterCalifornia-endemicsoil-faunadecomposer

• Platyseius

  Platyseius is a genus of mesostigmatid mites first described by Berlese in 1916. The genus currently includes six described species distributed across multiple continents. Taxonomic placement has shifted over time, with the genus now classified in Blattisociidae (formerly placed in Ascidae). Species in this genus have been recorded from Europe, southern Africa, and Australia.

  mitesMesostigmataBlattisociidaesoil-faunapredatory-mites

• Plutomurus wilkeyi

  Plutomurus wilkeyi is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Tomoceridae, first described by K. Christiansen in 1964. As a member of the genus Plutomurus, it belongs to a group of relatively large, robust springtails. The species is known from the Pacific North American region. Like other Tomoceridae, it possesses the furcula (springing organ) characteristic of Collembola, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunaPacific-North-AmericaTomoceridae

• Pnyxia

  dark-winged fungus gnats

  Pnyxia is a genus of dark-winged fungus gnats in the family Sciaridae, established by Johannsen in 1912. The genus contains at least four described species, including Pnyxia scabiei, commonly known as the potato scab gnat. Members of this genus are small, delicate flies typically associated with moist, decomposing organic matter. The genus is part of a diverse family of fungus gnats whose larvae often feed on fungal mycelia and decaying plant material.

  Sciaridaefungus-gnatssoil-faunadecomposersagricultural-association

• Podocinidae

  Podocinidae is a family of free-living predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata. The family comprises 38 species across three genera: Africoseius, Podocinella, and Podocinum. These mites are primarily soil and leaf litter inhabitants, with most species in the genus Podocinum. Their biology remains poorly known despite taxonomic documentation from multiple continents.

  mitesMesostigmatapredatorysoil-faunaleaf-litterfree-livingpoorly-known-biologyPhytoseioidea

• Podocinum

  Podocinum is a genus of predatory mites in the family Podocinidae, order Mesostigmata. The genus contains more than 30 described species distributed across six continents. Species have been collected from diverse habitats including leaf litter and, in one documented case, from the fur of a wild rodent. The genus was established by Berlese in 1882 and has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, including the description of new species from China and the United States.

  mitesMesostigmataPodocinidaepredatory-mitessoil-faunalitter-fauna

• Poduromorpha

  Plump Springtails

  Poduromorpha is one of three main orders of springtails (Collembola), distinguished by a plump, oval body shape with six visible abdominal segments and retention of all three thoracic segments. Members possess short legs and a short, flat furcula (springing organ), giving the group its name meaning 'foot tail formed'. The order contains approximately 3,400 described species across multiple families including Hypogastruridae, Poduridae, Neanuridae, Onychiuridae, and Brachystomellidae. Poduromorpha are primarily soil-dwelling and exhibit higher diversity in certain coastal and disturbed habitats compared to other springtail groups.

  Collembolaspringtailssoil-faunabioindicatorrestingaanal-sacksPoduroidea

• Pogonognathellus

  Pogonognathellus is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Tomoceridae, first described by Paclt in 1944. The genus contains at least two described species: P. flavescens and P. longicornis. It is part of the diverse Entomobryomorpha order, one of the most species-rich lineages of springtails. Members of this genus are found across multiple biogeographic regions including Europe, the Mediterranean, and Arctic zones.

  springtailsoil-faunadecomposerEntomobryomorpha

• Pogonognathellus dubius

  Pogonognathellus dubius is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Tomoceridae, described by Christiansen in 1964. It belongs to a genus characterized by elongated body form and well-developed furcula. The species is part of the diverse North American springtail fauna, with records from northern, southern, and Pacific regions of the continent. As a member of the Tomoceridae, it likely inhabits soil and leaf litter environments typical of this family.

  CollembolaspringtailTomoceridaesoil-faunaNorth-Americadecomposer

• Pogonognathellus elongatus

  Pogonognathellus elongatus is a species of springtail in the family Tomoceridae, described by E.A. Maynard in 1951. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive mouthpart structures and elongated body forms. The species has been documented across North American regions including the Pacific coast. Springtails in this family are typically found in soil and leaf litter habitats where they contribute to decomposition processes.

  springtailCollembolaTomoceridaeNorth-Americasoil-faunadecomposer

• Polyaspididae

  Polyaspididae is a family of mites within the order Mesostigmata, infraorder Uropodina. The family includes at least 21 described species across three genera: Polyaspis (the most diverse), Calotrachys, and Dyscritaspis. Most species have been described from Europe, Asia, and Africa, with scattered records from North America. The group belongs to the superfamily Uropodoidea, a diverse assemblage of primarily soil-dwelling mites.

  mitesMesostigmataUropodinasoil-faunaUropodoidea

• Polyaspinus

  Polyaspinus is a genus of mites in the order Mesostigmata. The genus was established by Berlese in 1916 and currently includes at least eleven described species distributed across multiple continents. Taxonomic placement has varied between families Polyaspididae and Trachytidae in different classification systems. The genus shows a broad geographic distribution with records from South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

  mitesMesostigmatasoil-faunataxonomy-disputed

• Polykatianna

  Polykatianna is a genus of globular springtails in the family Katiannidae, characterized by their rounded body form typical of the Symphypleona. The genus was established by J.T. Salmon in 1946 and contains species distributed across widely separated regions including Australia, Antarctica and subantarctic islands, the Caribbean, and East Africa. Members of this genus inhabit diverse terrestrial environments from arid central Australian landscapes to cold subantarctic ecosystems.

  CollembolaSymphypleonasoil-faunaglobular-springtailKatiannidaedisjunct-distributionsubantarcticAustralian-fauna

• Polypauropodidae

  Polypauropodidae is a family of minute myriapods in the class Pauropoda, established by Remy in 1932. Pauropods are among the smallest soil-dwelling arthropods, rarely exceeding 2 mm in length. Members of this family are distinguished within Tetramerocerata by specific morphological features of the antennae and trunk segments. The family is poorly studied, with limited observational data and few described species.

  myriapodssoil-faunamicroarthropodsTetramerocerata

• Polypauropus

  Polypauropus is a genus of minute soil-dwelling myriapods in the class Pauropoda, established by Remy in 1932. Pauropods are among the smallest myriapods, rarely exceeding 2 mm in length, and are characterized by their branched antennae and reduced body segmentation. The genus belongs to the family Polypauropodidae, which is distinguished by specific morphological features of the antennae and trunk segments. Species within this genus are found in Mediterranean and South Asian regions.

  soil-faunamicroarthropoddecomposercryptic-species

• Porcellionidae

  Porcellionid Woodlice

  Porcellionidae is a family of terrestrial isopods (woodlice) containing approximately 530 species across 19 genera, distributed on every continent except Antarctica. Members are distinguished by flattened, spear-shaped uropods that extend beyond the terminal exoskeletal plate and slightly flared epimera on the thoracic exoskeleton. Unlike members of Armadillidiidae, porcellionids cannot roll into a defensive ball.

  detritivoreterrestrialchemosensorybioindicatorsoil-fauna

• Proisotoma

  springtails

  Proisotoma is a genus of elongate-bodied springtails (Collembola) in the family Isotomidae, established by Börner in 1901. The genus comprises at least 50 described species distributed across diverse biomes including tropical, temperate, Antarctic, and desert regions. Species within this genus are primarily soil-dwelling and have been widely used as bioindicator organisms in ecotoxicological studies due to their sensitivity to environmental contaminants.

  Collembolaspringtailssoil-faunabioindicatorecotoxicologyIsotomidaeglobal-distribution

• Prokoeneniidae

  microscorpions, microwhip scorpions

  Prokoeneniidae is a family of microscorpions (order Palpigradi) established by Condé in 1996. The family contains at least two genera—*Prokoenenia* and *Triadokoenenia*—with approximately seven described species. These minute arachnids are among the least studied of all arachnid orders, reflecting their cryptic lifestyle and small size.

  arachnidmicroscorpionpalpigradicave-dwellingsoil-faunacrypticrarely-observed

• Proteinus brachypterus

  Proteinus brachypterus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) characterized by reduced hind wings (brachyptery), a trait reflected in its species name. It is widely distributed across the Holarctic region, with confirmed records from Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Russia, and western North America. The species inhabits various decaying organic substrates and is associated with forest floor and riparian environments. Like other members of Proteininae, it is presumed to be a predator or scavenger in microarthropod communities, though specific ecological studies are limited.

  Staphylinidaerove-beetlebrachypterousHolarcticsoil-faunalitter-inhabitant

• Protura

  proturans, coneheads

  Protura are minute soil-dwelling hexapods, 0.6–1.5 mm in length, distinguished by their lack of eyes, wings, and antennae. They were first discovered in 1907 and were previously regarded as insects but are now classified as an order within the class Entognatha. Unique among hexapods, proturans exhibit anamorphic development, adding abdominal segments post-embryonically through successive molts until reaching the adult complement of 12 segments. Approximately 800 species have been described across seven families, with nearly 300 species in the single genus Eosentomon.

  soil-faunahexapodentognathanamorphosismicroarthropodcryptic-fauna

• Pselaphochernes distinctus

  Pselaphochernes distinctus is a species of pseudoscorpion in the family Chernetidae. Pseudoscorpions are small, flattened arachnids that resemble true scorpions but lack a tail and stinger. Members of the genus Pselaphochernes are typically found in association with soil, leaf litter, or decaying organic matter in forested habitats. This species is part of a diverse group of pseudoscorpions that play roles as micro-predators in soil ecosystems.

  pseudoscorpionarachnidsoil-faunamicro-predatorChernetidae

• Pselaptrichus

  Pselaptrichus is a genus of ant-loving beetles in the family Staphylinidae, described by Brendel in 1889. The genus contains more than 30 described species. These beetles belong to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of small rove beetles characterized by their ecological associations with ants and other social insects.

  beetlerove-beetleant-associatedleaf-littersoil-fauna

• Pseudachorudina ignota

  Pseudachorudina ignota is a species of springtail in the family Neanuridae, described from the Pacific North American region in 1980. As a member of the subfamily Pseudachorutinae, it belongs to a group of soil-dwelling microarthropods characterized by reduced or absent furcula and distinctive head morphology. The species remains poorly known, with minimal published biological data beyond its original description.

  springtailsoil-faunaPacific-North-AmericaNeanuridaePseudachorutinae1980-description

• Pseudachorutes

  Pseudachorutes is a genus of springtails in the family Neanuridae, containing more than 50 described species. These small hexapods are distributed across diverse biomes including arctic, tropical, and desert regions. As members of the subfamily Pseudachorutinae, they represent a well-established lineage within the Poduromorpha order.

  springtailsCollembolaPoduromorphaNeanuridaesoil-faunahexapods

• Pseudachorutinae

  Pseudachorutinae is a subfamily of springtails (Collembola) within the family Neanuridae, established by Börner in 1906. The subfamily contains over 50 genera and 200 described species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia, and the Russian Far East. Members are typically small (<1.0 mm), unpigmented springtails with reduced appendages and simplified body structures.

  springtailsCollembolasoil-faunaleaf-littertropical-forestreduced-morphologyunpigmented

• Pseudisotoma

  Pseudisotoma is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Isotomidae, established by Handschin in 1924. Members of this genus are small, soil-dwelling hexapods found across diverse geographic regions including Arctic, European, Caribbean, Southeast Asian, and Hawaiian localities. As part of the diverse Isotomidae family, they contribute to decomposition processes in their habitats.

  springtailssoil-faunadecomposersArctic-faunaHawaiian-faunaSoutheast-Asian-faunaCaribbean-faunaEuropean-fauna

• Pseudocellus dorotheae

  hooded tickspider

  Pseudocellus dorotheae is a species of hooded tickspider in the order Ricinulei, first described from Texas in 1939. Ricinuleids are a small, reclusive order of arachnids characterized by a retractable hood (cucullus) covering the mouthparts. This species represents one of the few described members of the genus Pseudocellus in North America. Like other ricinuleids, it is poorly known due to its cryptic habits and limited collection records.

  arachnidricinuleicave-dwellingsoil-faunacrypticNorth-AmericaTexas

• Pseudosinella

  slender springtails

  Pseudosinella is a genus of slender-bodied springtails in the family Entomobryidae, established by Schäffer in 1897. The genus contains more than 20 described species distributed across diverse habitats including tropical rainforests, temperate woodlands, and even Antarctic and subantarctic regions. Members of this genus are characterized by their elongated, cylindrical body form and reduced or absent pigmentation. They are part of the diverse soil and leaf litter fauna, contributing to decomposition processes.

  springtailsCollembolasoil-faunadecomposersEntomobryidaecosmopolitan-distributionAntarctic-fauna

• Pseudosinella alba

  Pseudosinella alba is a species of slender springtail in the family Entomobryidae. Originally described as Lepidocyrtus albus by Packard in 1873, it is a small hexapod belonging to the order Entomobryomorpha. The species has been recorded from Europe and various other regions including Arctic and Sub-arctic areas, with limited observational data available.

  springtailCollembolaEntomobryidaesoil-faunaEurope

• Pseudosinella folsomi

  A species of slender springtail in the family Entomobryidae, originally described from North America. Pseudosinella folsomi belongs to a large genus of elongate collembolans characterized by reduced body pigmentation and long antennae. The species is documented in scattered records across southern North America.

  springtailcollembolansoil-faunaEntomobryomorpha

• Pseudosinella rolfsi

  Pseudosinella rolfsi is a species of slender springtail in the family Entomobryidae, first described by H.B. Mills in 1932. As an entomobryomorph collembolan, it possesses the elongated body form and relatively long antennae characteristic of this group. The species has been recorded across North America with observations spanning northern, southern, and Pacific regions. Springtails in this genus are typically found in soil and leaf litter habitats where they contribute to decomposition processes.

  springtailCollembolaEntomobryidaesoil-faunaNorth-America

• Pseudosinella sexoculata

  Pseudosinella sexoculata is a species of elongate springtail in the family Entomobryidae, described by Schött in 1902. Members of this genus are characterized by their slender, scaled bodies and are typically found in soil and leaf litter habitats. The specific epithet "sexoculata" refers to the presence of six eyes (ocelli), a diagnostic feature distinguishing it from related species. Like other entomobryomorph springtails, it possesses a furcula for jumping and lacks a collophore on the first abdominal segment.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunadecomposersix-eyedscaled

• Pseudosinella violenta

  Pseudosinella violenta is a species of slender springtail first described by Folsom in 1924. It belongs to the family Entomobryidae, a group characterized by elongated bodies and well-developed furcula. The species has been recorded across multiple North American regions including the Antilles, southern Florida, Caribbean mainland, and Pacific and southern North American areas. As with most members of its genus, it likely inhabits soil and leaf litter microhabitats.

  CollembolaspringtailEntomobryidaesoil-faunaNorth-AmericaCaribbeanPseudosinellaEntomobryomorphamicroarthropod

• Ptenothrix atra

  Ptenothrix atra is a species of globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae. It is one of the oldest described springtail species, originally described by Linnaeus in 1758. The species has a broad distribution spanning Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, and Caribbean regions. As a member of the Symphypleona, it possesses a characteristic globular body form distinct from the more elongate Entomobryomorpha springtails.

  springtailCollembolaglobular-springtailSymphypleonaDicyrtomidaeLinnaeus-1758PtenothrixPtenothrix-atrasoil-faunamicroarthropod

• Ptenothrix californica

  Ptenothrix californica is a species of globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae. It is native to the Pacific North American region, particularly California. The species was described by Christiansen and Bellinger in 1981. As a member of the Symphypleona, it possesses a rounded, globular body form characteristic of this order of Collembola. It is documented in museum collections and has been recorded in citizen science observations.

  CollembolaspringtailSymphypleonaDicyrtomidaeCaliforniaPacific-North-Americaglobular-springtailsoil-fauna

• Ptenothrix flavescens

  Ptenothrix flavescens is a species of globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae, first described by Axelson in 1905. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by their rounded, globular body form. The species is known from Europe, though specific ecological details remain limited in available literature.

  CollembolaspringtailSymphypleonaDicyrtomidaeEuropean-faunasoil-fauna

• Ptenothrix undescribed

  Ptenothrix is a genus of globular springtails (Collembola: Sminthuridae). The genus contains multiple species, with at least one undescribed species known to occur in North America. Springtails in this genus are small, soil-dwelling hexapods that contribute to decomposition and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. The undescribed status indicates formal taxonomic description is pending.

  CollembolaspringtailSminthuridaeundescribedNorth-Americaglobular-springtailsoil-faunadecomposerpending-description

• Pyrophorini

  Headlight Beetles

  Pyrophorini is a New World tribe of click beetles (Elateridae: Agrypninae) characterized by bioluminescence in both larvae and adults. The tribe comprises approximately 20 genera including Pyrophorus, Ignelater, and Pyrearinus. Members are known for producing light through specialized organs, with larvae associated with phenomena such as 'luminescent termite mounds' and 'luminous canga caves' in South America. The tribe is believed to be monophyletic and is closely related to Anaissini, which contains some but not all bioluminescent species.

  bioluminescencecave-dwellingtermitophilousNeotropicalclick-beetlessoil-fauna

• Quedius caseyi divergens

  Quedius caseyi divergens is a subspecies of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. As a member of the genus Quedius, it belongs to a diverse group of predatory beetles commonly found in various terrestrial habitats. The subspecies designation indicates geographic or morphological differentiation from the nominate form Quedius caseyi caseyi. Specific information about this particular subspecies is limited in available sources.

  ColeopteraStaphylinidaeQuediusrove-beetlesubspeciesNorth-Americapredatory-beetlesoil-faunalitter-fauna

• Quedius marginalis

  Quedius marginalis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Mäklin in 1852. It is currently classified as an ambiguous synonym in the Catalogue of Life, placed within the subgenus Quedius (Distichalius). The species belongs to the diverse genus Quedius, one of the largest genera in Staphylinidae, whose members are predominantly predatory and commonly found in soil, leaf litter, and decaying organic matter.

  Staphylinidaerove-beetleambiguous-synonymQuediusMäklin-1852Distichaliuspredatory-beetlesoil-faunaleaf-litter-inhabitantColeopteraStaphylininaeStaphylinini

• Quedius peregrinus

  Quedius peregrinus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, originally described by Gravenhorst in 1806 under the basionym Microsaurus peregrinus. It belongs to the tribe Quediini within the subfamily Staphylininae. The species is native to North America and has been recorded across a broad geographic range spanning eastern Canada and much of the eastern and central United States.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaeColeopteraNorth-AmericaQuediinipredatory-beetlesoil-faunaleaf-litter

• Raphignathoidea

  Raphignathoidea is a superfamily of mites in the order Trombidiformes, comprising approximately 1,087 species across 62 genera and 12 families. The group exhibits diverse feeding strategies, including predation on small invertebrates, herbivory, and parasitism. Many species have commercial value in biological pest control. The superfamily occupies varied microhabitats from soil and leaf litter to aquatic environments and agricultural crops.

  mitespredatorybiological-controlagricultural-pest-managementsoil-faunaarborealaquatic-mitesparasitic-mites

• Raymondionyminae

  Raymondionyminae is a subfamily of small, primarily blind weevils within the family Brachyceridae. Members are characterized by reduced or absent eyes, an adaptation associated with subterranean or soil-dwelling habits. The subfamily includes at least four genera: Alaocybites, Gilbertiola, Schizomicrus, and Bordoniola. Most species are poorly known, with the majority of records coming from South America.

  ColeopteraBrachyceridaeweevilblindsoil-faunaendogeanSouth-America

• Renardia

  unmargined rove beetles

  Renardia is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, placed in the subfamily Osoriinae. The genus is characterized by the absence of marginal ridges on the elytra, a trait that distinguishes it from related genera. Only two species are currently recognized: Renardia canadensis and Renardia nigrella. These beetles are small, elongated, and belong to a group commonly found in soil and leaf litter habitats.

  rove-beetlesStaphylinidaeOsoriinaeNorth-Americasoil-faunaleaf-litter

• Rhagidiidae

  Rhagidiidae is a family of soft-bodied, predaceous soil mites in the order Trombidiformes. The family comprises approximately 28 genera and 150 species of whitish mites that inhabit soil environments, with many species showing adaptations to subterranean life. Established by Oudemans in 1922, the family received its modern systematic foundation through Zacharda's 1980 world revision. Many species exhibit troglomorphic traits including reduced eyes, elongated appendages, and depigmentation.

  mitessoil-faunacave-faunatroglobiticpredatorclimate-indicator

• Rhexidius

  ant-loving beetles

  Rhexidius is a genus of small rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) containing approximately 10 described species. These beetles belong to the subfamily Pselaphinae, commonly known as ant-loving beetles due to their frequent association with ant colonies. The genus was established by Casey in 1887, with most species described by Schuster & Grigarick in 1962. Species in this genus are characterized by various surface sculpturing patterns, including granulate, crenate, and hispid textures.

  myrmecophilousrove-beetleNorth-Americansoil-faunacryptic

• Rhysotritia

  Rhysotritia is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Euphthiracaridae. The genus contains multiple described species distributed across several continents, with documented occurrence in Japan, Brazil, and Europe. A notable study in Japan identified two distinct morphological forms of Rhysotritia ardua that differ in claw formula, body size, coloration, and setal characteristics, though their taxonomic status remains unresolved.

  oribatidmitesoil-fauna

• Riccardoellinae

  Riccardoellinae is a subfamily of mites within the family Ereynetidae, order Trombidiformes. These prostigmatic mites are part of the diverse soil and litter mite fauna. Members are small, soft-bodied arachnids with limited published documentation. The subfamily was established to accommodate genera with distinctive morphological features separating them from other Ereynetidae.

  mitesoil-faunadecomposerprostigmatacryptic-fauna

• Rugilus angularis

  Rugilus angularis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Paederinae. It is a small, ground-dwelling beetle with a transcontinental distribution across North America, ranging from Canada through the United States to Mexico. The species was first described by Wilhelm Ferdinand Erichson in 1840. Like other members of the genus Rugilus, it is characterized by its compact body form and association with leaf litter and soil habitats.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaePaederinaeground-beetleNorth-Americasoil-fauna

• Rugilus biarmatus

  Rugilus biarmatus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is a small, elongate beetle with the characteristic short elytra that expose most of the abdomen typical of the family. The species was described by J.L. LeConte in 1880 and occurs in northeastern North America.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaeNorth-Americasoil-faunalitter-inhabitant

• Rybaxis

  ant-loving beetles

  Rybaxis is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Pselaphinae, commonly referred to as ant-loving beetles. The genus contains at least 20 described species. Members of this genus are myrmecophilous, living in association with ant colonies. They were first described by Saulcy in 1876.

  myrmecophilerove-beetleleaf-littersoil-faunaStaphylinidaePselaphinae

• Salina

  Salina is a genus of elongate-bodied springtails in the family Paronellidae, first described by MacGillivray in 1894. The genus contains approximately five described species. These springtails are distributed across tropical and subtropical regions including the Amazon, Andean regions, the Caribbean, and continental Southeast Asia. They are characterized by their slender, elongated body form typical of the Paronellidae family.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunadecomposertropical

• Salina banksi

  Salina banksi is a species of elongate-bodied springtail in the family Paronellidae, first described by A.D. MacGillivray in 1894. Springtails (Collembola) are small, wingless hexapods that are among the most abundant terrestrial arthropods, though individual species are often poorly documented. The specific epithet "banksi" honors the naturalist Joseph Banks. This species belongs to a genus and family characterized by elongated body forms adapted for life in soil and leaf litter communities.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunadecomposerAustralian-fauna

• Salina beta

  Salina beta is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Paronellidae, described by Christiansen and Bellinger in 1980. Springtails in this family are characterized by elongate body forms and are part of the diverse soil-dwelling microarthropod fauna. The genus Salina contains multiple species distributed across various regions, though specific ecological details for S. beta remain poorly documented in available literature.

  springtailCollembolaParonellidaesoil-faunamicroarthropod

• Sancassania

  Sancassania is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae containing more than 80 species. Many species are associated with fungi, particularly mushrooms, with some lineages having specialized to exploit this ephemeral resource. Other species are phoretic on beetles or occur in soil and decomposing organic matter. The genus includes economically significant species associated with agricultural crops and biocontrol systems.

  mitesacaridaemycophagousphoreticmale-dimorphismsexual-conflictsoil-faunaagricultural-pestmodel-organism

• Sancassania anomala

  Sancassania anomala is a species of mite belonging to the family Acaridae, within the order Sarcoptiformes. These mites are part of the diverse oribatid mite fauna, a group primarily known for their role in decomposition and nutrient cycling in soil ecosystems. The genus Sancassania includes species commonly associated with stored products, decaying organic matter, and various substrates where they feed on fungi and detrital material. Specific information about S. anomala remains limited in publicly available sources.

  miteacaridoribatidSarcoptiformesAcaridaeSancassaniadecomposersoil-fauna

• Scalenarthrus

  Scalenarthrus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. First described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1880, it belongs to the tribe Brachyglutini. Members of this genus are small, cryptic beetles characteristic of the ant-loving beetle group (Pselaphinae), which are primarily found in soil and leaf litter habitats.

  Pselaphinaerove-beetleBrachyglutiniNorth-Americaleaf-littersoil-faunacryptic-beetlemicrobeetle

• Scarites

  big-headed ground beetle

  Scarites is a genus of large ground beetles in the family Carabidae, containing over 190 described species distributed across the Palearctic, Near East, North America, and North Africa. These beetles are characterized by their disproportionately large heads, prominent mandibles, and elongated, somewhat flattened bodies that superficially resemble tropical stag beetles, though they are not closely related. Both adults and larvae are active predators that hunt soil-dwelling invertebrates. When disturbed, Scarites beetles exhibit thanatosis—folding their legs and arching their backs to feign death.

  Carabidaeground-beetlepredatorthanatosisbeneficial-insectsoil-faunabiological-control

• Scaritinae

  Pedunculate Ground Beetles

  Scaritinae is a large, cosmopolitan subfamily of ground beetles (Carabidae) containing over 2,400 species in more than 140 genera. Members exhibit considerable ecological diversity, with many species adapted to specialized habitats including caves, riverbanks, and deep soil layers. The subfamily includes tribes such as Scaritini, Clivinini, and Salcediini. Several genera show disjunct distributions that have contributed to biogeographic understanding of continental drift and faunal exchange.

  Carabidaeground-beetlescave-beetlesendogeansubterraneanGondwanabiogeographymicrophtalmictroglobiticAfrotropicalOrientalPalearcticNeotropicalsoil-faunaleaf-litterriverinelight-trapcrypticrare-speciesstenoendemic

• Scheloribatidae

  Scheloribatidae is a family of oribatid mites in the order Sarcoptiformes, established by Grandjean in 1933. The family comprises at least 20 genera and approximately 320 described species. Members of this family are part of the diverse soil mite fauna and contribute to decomposition processes in terrestrial ecosystems.

  mitesoribatidsoil-faunadecomposerSarcoptiformes

• Schendyla

  Schendyla is a genus of soil-dwelling centipedes in the family Schendylidae, first described in 1866 by Danish entomologists Vilhelm Bergsøe and Frederik Vilhelm August Meinert. The genus comprises more than 20 species distributed across the western Palearctic region. These centipedes are small to medium-sized, ranging from approximately 1 cm to 4.5 cm in length, with leg pair counts varying dramatically between species—from 29 to 57 pairs. The genus exhibits notable morphological diversity in body size and leg number, with some species like S. antici being exceptionally small (5–8 mm) with minimal leg pairs, while others like S. vizzavonae reach 45 mm.

  soil-centipedeGeophilomorphawestern-Palearcticsoil-faunaforest-arthropod

• Schendyla nemorensis

  Common Schendyla

  Schendyla nemorensis is a small geophilomorph centipede in the family Schendylidae, first described by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1836. It is one of the most frequently observed centipedes in its range, with over 800 iNaturalist records. The species exhibits notable sexual dimorphism in leg count, with males possessing fewer leg pairs than females. It has been introduced from its native Palearctic range to Tasmania.

  centipedemyriapodsoil-faunalitter-inhabitantPalearcticintroduced-species

• Schizoptera rileyi

  Schizoptera rileyi is a species of minute litter bug in the family Schizopteridae, described in 2018. Members of this family are among the smallest true bugs, typically inhabiting leaf litter and soil habitats. The species epithet honors Edward Riley, a prolific coleopterist and collector. The genus Schizoptera belongs to the infraorder Dipsocoromorpha, a group of cryptic, ground-dwelling true bugs that are poorly known due to their small size and concealed habits.

  Dipsocoromorphalitter-bugmicrohabitatleaf-littersoil-faunacryptic2018-description

• Schlingeria

  Schlingeria is a genus of stiletto flies (family Therevidae) established by Irwin in 1977. It belongs to the subfamily Phycusinae, a group characterized by specialized morphological features including reduced wing venation and particular arrangements of thoracic bristles. The genus is poorly known, with only two observations recorded on iNaturalist and minimal published biological data available. Schlingeria species are presumably predatory as larvae, as is characteristic of the family Therevidae, though direct observations of life history remain undocumented.

  DipteraTherevidaePhycusinaestiletto-fliespredatory-larvaesoil-faunawestern-North-Americataxonomically-understudied

• Schoettella

  Schoettella is a genus of springtails in the family Hypogastruridae, established by Schäffer in 1896. The genus comprises approximately 13 described species distributed across diverse geographic regions including Europe, the Americas, and the Hawaiian Islands. Species within this genus are small, soil-dwelling hexapods belonging to the order Poduromorpha.

  springtailsCollembolasoil-faunaPoduromorphaHypogastruridae

• Scutigerella

  garden symphylans, garden centipedes (misapplied)

  Scutigerella is a genus of symphylans (class Symphyla) established by John A. Ryder in 1882, with S. immaculata as the type species. It is the second-largest genus in the family Scutigerellidae, comprising at least 35 extant species plus two fossil species preserved in amber. Species range from 3.5 to 9 mm in length and are characterized by a heart-shaped head with spiracles on the anterior surface, 20–50 segmented antennae, 15 tergites with notched posterior margins, and 12 pairs of legs. The genus has a subcosmopolitan distribution centered in northern temperate zones, with introduced populations in Australasia and Oceania.

  soil-faunasymphylanagricultural-pestfossilamberMyriapoda

• Scutisotoma

  Scutisotoma is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Isotomidae, subfamily Proisotominae. The genus was established by R.S. Bagnall in 1949 and is distributed across diverse biogeographic regions including Europe, the Arctic, the Himalayas, and parts of Africa and the Caribbean. As a member of the Entomobryomorpha, Scutisotoma shares characteristics with other elongate-bodied springtails.

  CollembolaspringtailsIsotomidaeProisotominaesoil-fauna

• Scutoverticidae

  Scutoverticidae is a family of oribatid mites comprising approximately 8 genera and at least 50 described species. The family is classified within the superfamily Licneremaeoidea. Members are small soil-dwelling arachnids. The genus *Scutovertex* includes alpine-associated species.

  mitesoribatidssoil-faunaalpine

• Scydmaenus

  ant-like stone beetles

  Scydmaenus is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Scydmaeninae, commonly called ant-like stone beetles. The genus has nearly cosmopolitan distribution with species documented across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and other regions. Members are small, slow-moving beetles typically found in soil and leaf litter habitats. Some species have been documented as predators of soft-bodied arthropods, though earlier literature suggested specialization on armored mites.

  StaphylinidaeScydmaeninaerove-beetlesant-like-stone-beetlessoil-faunapredatory-beetlesleaf-littercosmopolitan-distributiontaxonomically-difficultgenus-level-only

• Seira

  slender springtails

  Seira is a genus of slender springtails in the family Entomobryidae, first described by Lubbock in 1870. The genus contains approximately 17 described species. These springtails are characterized by their elongated body form and are distributed across multiple biogeographic regions including tropical and subtropical areas.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunadecomposerEntomobryidae

• Seira bipunctata

  Seira bipunctata is a species of slender springtail in the family Entomobryidae. The species was described by Christiansen and Bellinger in 1980. It belongs to the genus Seira, which is characterized by elongate body forms and distinct morphological features typical of the Seirinae subfamily. The species epithet 'bipunctata' refers to two spots or punctures, likely describing a distinctive marking pattern.

  CollembolaspringtailEntomobryidaeSeirasoil-fauna

• Seira brasiliana

  Seira brasiliana is a species of elongate-bodied springtail in the family Entomobryidae. It is a Neotropical species originally described from Brazil, with subsequent records from multiple Brazilian states including Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraíba, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo. As a member of the genus Seira, it possesses the characteristic scaled body covering typical of this group. The species remains poorly studied, with limited published information on its biology and ecology.

  CollembolaEntomobryidaespringtailNeotropicalBrazilsoil-faunadecomposer

• Seira knowltoni

  Seira knowltoni is a species of slender springtail in the family Entomobryidae. The species was described by Christiansen and Bellinger in 2000. It is currently accepted as a valid species, though some sources list it as a synonym of Seira (Seira) purpurea. As a member of the genus Seira, it belongs to a group of elongate, fast-moving springtails commonly found in soil and leaf litter habitats.

  springtailCollembolaEntomobryidaesoil-fauna

• Sensillanura barberi

  Sensillanura barberi is a species of springtail in the family Neanuridae, first described by Handschin in 1928. As a member of the order Poduromorpha, it belongs to a group of soil-dwelling hexapods characterized by their reduced body size and specialized mouthparts. The species has been recorded in Pacific North America, with 35 observations documented on iNaturalist. Springtails in this family are typically found in moist soil and leaf litter environments where they contribute to decomposition processes.

  springtailCollembolaPoduromorphaNeanuridaesoil-faunaPacific-North-America

• Sinella

  slender springtails

  Sinella is a genus of slender springtails in the family Entomobryidae, containing at least 20 described species. Members of this genus are characterized by elongated bodies and are part of the diverse soil and litter microarthropod fauna. Several species, including Sinella curviseta and Sinella coeca, have been subjects of ecological and toxicological research. The genus has a broad geographic distribution spanning multiple continents.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunadecomposerecotoxicology-model-organismfungivore

• Sinella sexoculata

  slender springtail

  Sinella sexoculata is a species of slender springtail in the family Entomobryidae, described by Schött in 1896. As an entomobryomorph collembolan, it possesses the characteristic elongated body form and well-developed antennae typical of this group. The species has been documented in the Caribbean mainland and Pacific North American regions based on GBIF distribution records. Like other members of the genus Sinella, it inhabits soil and leaf litter environments where it contributes to decomposition processes.

  Collembolaspringtailsoil-faunadecomposerEntomobryidaeSinellaslender-springtail

• Siro

  harvestmen

  Siro is a genus of cyphophthalmid harvestmen (Opiliones) in the family Sironidae. These small arachnids are characterized by their eyeless condition, elongated bodies, and association with moist microhabitats. The genus was established by Latreille in 1795 and represents one of the early-recognized lineages of the suborder Cyphophthalmi, which diverged from other harvestmen early in the evolutionary history of the order. Species in this genus are distributed primarily in the Mediterranean region and parts of Europe.

  harvestmenOpilionesCyphophthalmieyelesscave-dwellingsoil-faunaMediterraneankarstSironidae

• Siro exilis

  Siro exilis is a species of mite harvestman (order Opiliones, suborder Cyphophthalmi) in the family Sironidae. The species was first described by Hoffman in 1963 and is currently recognized as a synonym of Neosiro exilis. It occurs in North America, with records from counties in Garrett, Giles, Mercer, Montgomery, and Pendleton. As a cyphophthalmid harvestman, it belongs to a group of small, eyeless arachnids that inhabit moist microhabitats in forested environments.

  harvestmanCyphophthalmimite-harvestmanAppalachianeyeless-arachnidsoil-faunaleaf-litter-inhabitant

• Sminthurinus henshawi

  Henshaw's globular springtail

  Sminthurinus henshawi is a species of globular springtail in the family Katiannidae. It is a small, soil-dwelling hexapod with a characteristic rounded body shape. The species has been recorded across multiple continents including North America and Eurasia. It is one of the more frequently observed springtail species, with over 1,400 citizen science records.

  springtailCollembolaSymphypleonasoil-faunadecomposer

• Sminthurinus minutus

  Sminthurinus minutus is a species of globular springtail in the family Katiannidae. It is a small, soil-dwelling hexapod that belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded body form distinct from the elongated shape of other springtail orders. The species was first described by MacGillivray in 1894. As a member of Collembola, it possesses a furcula (springing organ) for escape locomotion, though this feature is reduced in some globular springtails.

  springtailCollembolaSymphypleonasoil-faunahexapodglobular-springtail

• Sminthuroidea

  Sminthuroidea is a superfamily of springtails (Collembola) within the order Symphypleona, established by Bretfeld in 1994. Members share a globular body form with the ability to roll into a ball when disturbed, distinguishing them from elongate springtail superfamilies. The superfamily includes families such as Sminthuridae and Dicyrtomidae, which are among the most frequently observed and photographed springtails due to their relatively large size and often bright coloration.

  springtailCollembolaglobularconglobationsoil-fauna

• Sminthurus carolinensis

  A species of globular springtail in the family Sminthuridae, described from the Carolinas region of the southeastern United States. As a member of the order Symphypleona, it possesses a characteristic rounded, globular body form distinct from the elongate-bodied Entomobryomorpha. The species was formally described by R.J. Snider in 1981.

  CollembolaSymphypleonaSminthuridaesoil-faunaNorth-Americaglobular-springtail

• Sminthurus eisenii

  A globular springtail in the family Sminthuridae, first described from California in 1891. Belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded body form and reduced or absent furcula in some species. Part of a genus containing several agricultural pest species, though specific pest status for this species is undocumented.

  CollembolaSymphypleonaSminthuridaespringtailglobular-springtailNorth-AmericaCaliforniasoil-fauna

• Sminthurus fitchi

  Sminthurus fitchi is a species of globular springtail in the family Sminthuridae. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded body form distinct from the more elongate springtails in other orders. The species was described by J.W. Folsom in 1896. Like other members of its genus, it possesses a furcula, the springing organ that gives Collembola their common name.

  springtailCollembolaglobular-springtailSymphypleonaSminthuridaeSminthurusNorth-AmericaCaribbeansoil-faunamicroarthropod

• Sminthurus sp-nr-variegatus

  variegated globular springtail

  Sminthurus sp-nr-variegatus is a globular springtail in the family Sminthuridae, characterized by its distinctive variegated color pattern. This species exhibits the rounded body form typical of the order Symphypleona, with a furcula (springing organ) folded beneath the abdomen. It inhabits surface vegetation and soil litter in various terrestrial environments. The 'sp-nr-variegatus' designation indicates a species near or related to Sminthurus variegatus, pending formal taxonomic resolution.

  CollembolaSymphypleonaSminthuridaeglobular-springtailsoil-faunadecomposer

• Spinibdella

  snout mites

  Spinibdella is a genus of predatory snout mites in the family Bdellidae, characterized by an elongated rostrum used to pierce prey. The genus has been recorded from soil, leaf litter, and bird nests across multiple continents. Species such as S. bifurcata exhibit parthenogenetic reproduction and complete multiple generations annually. Spinibdella species are active predators with documented preference for psocopteran prey.

  Bdellidaepredatory-mitessoil-faunaparthenogenesispsocoptera-predators

• Spirostreptidae

  Flatplate Millipedes

  Spirostreptidae is a family of large millipedes in the order Spirostreptida, commonly known as flatplate millipedes. The family comprises approximately 100 genera distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, and the eastern Mediterranean. Members are characterized by their elongated cylindrical bodies and are primarily soil-dwelling detritivores, though some species exhibit arboreal habits. The family includes both synanthropic species that can become urban pests and species with specialized thermoregulatory and social behaviors.

  millipedediplopodsoil-faunadetritivoretropicaldesertthermoregulationaggregationsynanthropicgonopod-taxonomy

• Staphylinina

  Staphylinina is a subtribe of rove beetles within the tribe Staphylinini, family Staphylinidae. Members are typically medium to large-sized rove beetles with elongated bodies and relatively short elytra that leave much of the abdomen exposed. The subtribe includes genera such as Platydracus, Staphylinus, Ocypus, Agelosus, and Naddia. Several species have been documented exhibiting specialized behaviors including ant-mimicry and termitophily. The group has a cosmopolitan distribution with significant diversity in the Palaearctic and Oriental regions.

  rove-beetlesStaphylinidaeStaphylininiColeopterapredatory-beetlesant-mimicrytermitophilyintroduced-speciessoil-faunalitter-fauna

• Staphylinoidea

  Rove, Ant-like stone, and Carrion Beetles

  Staphylinoidea is a large and diverse superfamily of beetles with worldwide distribution, encompassing approximately 58,000 described species across six families. Adults range from minute (Ptiliidae at 0.3 mm, the smallest non-parasitic insects) to moderately large (Staphylinidae up to 50 mm, Silphidae up to 45 mm). The superfamily is characterized by distinctive wing and abdominal morphology: hind wings lack accessory posterior ridges, medial loops, wedge cells, and apical hinges; the 8th abdominal segment is not fully invaginated within the 7th; and the head typically lacks a coronal suture. Larvae possess 3-segmented maxillary palps with distinct galea and lacinia, well-developed tergites and sternites, and annular or annular-biforous spiracles without epistomal lobes.

  Coleopterabeetlesrove-beetlescarrion-beetlesfeatherwing-beetlesworldwide-distributiondiverse-superfamilyminute-sizepupal-spiraclesagricultural-ecologydecompositionsoil-fauna

• Stenolophus carbo

  Burned Harp Ground Beetle

  Stenolophus carbo is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Bousquet in 1993. It belongs to the genus Stenolophus, commonly known as seedcorn beetles or harp ground beetles, which are typically associated with agricultural and disturbed habitats. The species is known from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the Carabidae, it is likely predatory or omnivorous, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.

  ground-beetleCarabidaeStenolophusNorth-Americaagriculturalsoil-fauna

• Striaria

  Striaria is a genus of millipedes in the family Striariidae, order Chordeumatida. The genus was established by Bollman in 1888. These small, eyeless millipedes are part of the diverse soil-dwelling fauna of temperate forests. The name Striaria is also used for a genus of brown algae (Phaeophyceae), but this represents a separate taxonomic entity in a different kingdom.

  millipedediplopodachordeumatidastriariidaeeyelesssoil-faunadecomposertemperate-foresthomonymcryptic-fauna

• Strigamia branneri

  Strigamia branneri is a soil-dwelling centipede in the family Linotaeniidae, described by Bollman in 1888. It belongs to the order Geophilomorpha, which comprises elongated, burrowing centipedes with high numbers of leg pairs. The species is known from the United States.

  centipedemyriapodsoil-faunaNorth-America

• Strigamia epileptica

  Strigamia epileptica is a species of soil-dwelling centipede in the family Linotaeniidae, first described by Wood in 1862. It belongs to the order Geophilomorpha, characterized by elongated bodies with numerous leg pairs. The species is known from the United States and is part of the diverse Strigamia genus, which contains multiple North American species. Like other geophilomorph centipedes, it is adapted to life in soil and leaf litter environments.

  centipedemyriapodsoil-faunaNorth-AmericaLinotaeniidae

• Strigamia fusata

  Strigamia fusata is a species of soil-dwelling centipede in the family Linotaeniidae, originally described from Mexico in 1903 by Attems as Diplochora fusata and later transferred to Strigamia. The species belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive morphological features including a conspicuous basal denticle on the forcipular tarsungulum and paired ventral pore areas on trunk segments. Like other Strigamia species, it likely exhibits substantial variation in leg number, with the genus ranging from 31 to 83 pairs.

  centipedemyriapodsoil-faunaMexican-faunataxonomic-revision

• Sunius rufipes

  Sunius rufipes is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. The genus Sunius belongs to the subfamily Staphylininae, a large and diverse group of predatory beetles characterized by their abbreviated elytra. The specific epithet "rufipes" refers to reddish legs, a common coloration pattern in this genus. Members of Sunius are typically found in various terrestrial habitats where they function as generalist predators.

  Staphylinidaerove-beetlepredatory-beetlesoil-fauna

• Superodontella

  Superodontella is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Odontellidae, established by Stach in 1949. The genus has been documented across multiple continents including Europe, where recent studies have expanded its known range into Italy and Ukraine. Species-level identification relies on detailed chaetotaxy, particularly antennal sensilla patterns and specific arrangements of chaetae on body segments.

  Collembolaspringtailssoil-faunaOdontellidaechaetotaxyEuropeUkraineItalySicily

• Tachyporus abdominalis

  Tachyporus abdominalis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Tachyporinae. It is a small, active predatory beetle with a Holarctic distribution spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. The species is part of the diverse Tachyporus genus, which contains numerous similar-looking species that are often difficult to distinguish without close examination. Like other members of its genus, it is typically found in moist habitats where it hunts small invertebrates.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaeTachyporinaepredatorHolarcticsoil-faunalitter-inhabiting

• Taiyuna moderata

  Taiyuna moderata is a soil-dwelling centipede in the family Geophilidae, first described by Chamberlin in 1941. It belongs to the order Geophilomorpha, a group characterized by elongated bodies with numerous leg pairs. The species is known from the United States, with records indicating presence in North America. Limited published information exists regarding its biology and ecology.

  centipedesoil-faunaGeophilidaeNorth-Americamyriapod

• Talitroides

  landhopper, lawn shrimp

  Talitroides is a genus of terrestrial amphipod crustaceans commonly known as landhoppers or lawn shrimp. These small, laterally compressed crustaceans have adapted to life on land, inhabiting moist soil and leaf litter in forested environments. Several species have been introduced outside their native ranges and have become established in new regions, including T. topitotum in Brazil and Hong Kong. The genus has been documented in mosquito surveillance bycatch studies and ecological research on soil fauna.

  terrestrial-amphipodlandhoppersoil-faunainvasive-speciesbycatchCrustacea

• Talitroides alluaudi

  Alluaudi's landhopper

  A terrestrial amphipod (landhopper) native to the Atlantic forests of southeastern Brazil, now distributed worldwide through synanthropic human-mediated dispersal. Found in leaf litter of tropical and subtropical forests, urban parks, greenhouses, and silviculture areas. Females dominate populations with a strongly female-biased sex ratio observed in field samples. Exhibits highly stereotyped grooming behavior for hygiene maintenance.

  terrestrial-amphipodlandhoppersynanthropicdetritivoreAtlantic-forestgrooming-behaviorfemale-biased-sex-ratioinvasivegreenhouse-pestsoil-fauna

• Teleasinae

  Teleasinae is a subfamily of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Scelionidae. Members are exclusively egg parasitoids of ground beetles (Carabidae), making them unique among Scelionidae in this host specialization. The subfamily contains approximately 14 genera and over 480 described species worldwide, with Trimorus alone comprising 389 species. Taxonomic placement has shifted historically, having been treated previously as a subfamily of Platygastridae before molecular analyses reclassified Scelionidae as a subfamily within Platygastridae.

  egg-parasitoidcarabid-parasitewing-polymorphismsexual-dimorphismground-dwellingminute-waspssoil-faunaagroecosystems

• Tetracanthella californica

  Tetracanthella californica is a species of springtail described by Deharveng in 1978. It belongs to the family Isotomidae, a diverse group of small, wingless hexapods found in soil and leaf litter ecosystems. The species epithet indicates its occurrence in California. Like other Collembola, it contributes to decomposition processes in terrestrial habitats.

  springtailCollembolaIsotomidaeCalifornia-endemicsoil-faunadecomposer

• Tomoceridae

  Tomoceridae is a family of springtails (Collembola) within the order Entomobryomorpha. Members are characterized by their elongated bodies and relatively long antennae compared to other springtail families. The family includes both surface-dwelling and cave-adapted species, with some showing pronounced troglomorphic traits such as eyelessness and depigmentation. Tomoceridae has a broad geographic distribution including Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

  CollembolaspringtailsEntomobryomorphacave-faunatroglomorphysoil-faunaleaf-litter

• Tomocerus

  elongate springtails

  Tomocerus is a genus of elongate springtails (Collembola) in the family Tomoceridae, characterized by their relatively large size among springtails and distinctive body proportions. Species in this genus are distributed across multiple continents including Europe, Asia, and the Americas, with some species exhibiting troglomorphic adaptations in cave habitats. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision, with species complexes such as the kinoshitai and ocreatus groups recognized. Tomocerus vulgaris is a notable species that has been studied for its life history and ecological interactions, including serving as prey for specialized predators such as harvestmen.

  CollembolaEntomobryomorphaTomoceridaespringtailselongate-springtailssoil-faunacave-faunatroglomorphyChinaHolarctic

• Tomocerus vulgaris

  Tomocerus vulgaris is a European springtail species in the family Tomoceridae, characterized by an elongate body form and relatively long antennae. It is a soil-dwelling organism that has been documented as prey for harvestmen, which use adhesive secretions to capture this species despite its water-repellent cuticle. The species has been subject to bionomic studies examining its life history and temperature-dependent development.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunaprey-speciesEuropeTomoceridaeharvestman-preyentomobryomorph

• Trachyuropodidae

  Trachyuropodidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata, classified within the suborder Monogynaspida and infraorder Uropodina. The family contains genera such as Leonardiella, with species documented from European and Asian localities including Turkey. Members are found in association with woody vegetation, particularly oak and willow habitats. The group belongs to the diverse assemblage of soil-dwelling and litter-inhabiting mites that contribute to decomposition processes.

  mitesMesostigmataUropodinasoil-faunaTurkeyEuropeAsia

• Trechus

  Trechus is a large genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) comprising over 1,000 described species. The genus is distributed across the Palearctic, Near East, and highlands of East Africa. The name derives from the Greek word *trécho*, meaning "I run." Species occupy diverse habitats including floodplain meadows, alpine zones, and volcanic highlands.

  Carabidaeground-beetlesPalearcticEast-Africavolcanic-highlandssoil-faunainvasive-speciesphylogenetics

• Trichonyx sulcicollis

  Trichonyx sulcicollis is a small rove beetle (family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae) originally described from Europe in 1816. It belongs to the tribe Trichonychini within the diverse ant-loving beetle group (Pselaphinae). The species has been recorded across much of Europe and has been introduced to the northeastern United States (New Hampshire, New York). As a pselaphine rove beetle, it is likely associated with leaf litter and soil habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.

  StaphylinidaePselaphinaerove-beetleant-loving-beetleEuropeintroduced-speciesNorth-Americasoil-faunaleaf-litter

• Trogastrina

  Trogastrina is a subtribe of minute rove beetles within the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. These beetles belong to the tribe Trogastrini and are characterized by their small body size and association with leaf litter and soil habitats. The subtribe was established by Brendel and Wickham in 1890. Members of this group are part of the diverse Euplectitae clade, one of the most species-rich lineages within Pselaphinae.

  StaphylinidaePselaphinaerove-beetlesleaf-litter-faunasoil-fauna

• Trombellidae

  Trombellidae is a family of prostigmatid mites within the superfamily Trombiculoidea. These mites are closely related to chiggers (Trombiculidae) and share the characteristic parasitic larval stage, though they are far less studied than their medically important relatives. The family is distinguished by particular morphological features of the larval gnathosoma and setation patterns. Adult trombellids are free-living predators, while larvae are ectoparasites of arthropods.

  mitesparasitengonasoil-faunaectoparasitesarthropod-parasites

• Trombidioidea

  velvet mites

  Trombidioidea is a superfamily of mites in the order Trombidiformes, commonly known as velvet mites. It comprises approximately 8 families and at least 430 described species, including the familiar true velvet mites (Trombidiidae) and chiggers (Trombiculidae). Members exhibit complex life cycles with dramatic morphological and ecological shifts between instars. The superfamily is characterized by large, often brightly colored adults and minute, parasitic larvae.

  mitesvelvet-miteschiggersparasitespredatorssoil-faunabiological-controlmedical-importance

• Trombidium

  velvet mites, red velvet mites

  Trombidium is a genus of velvet mites in the family Trombidiidae comprising approximately 30 described species. Members are characterized by their bright red coloration and dense, velvety setae covering the body. The genus exhibits a complex life cycle with parasitic larval stages and free-living postlarval stages. The best-known species is Trombidium holosericeum, which has a Palearctic distribution.

  AcariTrombidiidaevelvet-mitesparasitengone-mitesectoparasitessoil-fauna

• Trypogalumnella poronota

  Trypogalumnella poronota is a species of oribatid mite in the family Galumnellidae, described by Mahunka in 1995. Oribatid mites of this family are soil-dwelling microarthropods, commonly known as beetle mites or moss mites. The species belongs to the superfamily Galumnoidea, characterized by specific morphological adaptations for life in soil and leaf litter environments. No observations of this species have been recorded in public databases.

  mitesoribatidasoil-faunaGalumnellidaeMahunka-1995

• Tullbergia

  Tullbergia is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Tullbergiidae, established by Lubbock in 1876. The genus contains approximately 50 described species distributed across diverse habitats including Arctic, Antarctic, and temperate regions. Some species have been studied for their population dynamics in forest soils.

  springtailsCollembolaPoduromorphaTullbergiidaesoil-faunaArcticAntarcticforest-soil

• Tullbergia arctica

  Tullbergia arctica is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Tullbergiidae, described by Wahlgren in 1900. The species is distributed across Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including northern Eurasia and North America. As a member of the Poduromorpha, it belongs to a group of soil-dwelling hexapods adapted to cold environments.

  springtailCollembolaArctictundrasoil-faunaPoduromorphaTullbergiidae

• Tyrini

  Tyrini is a tribe of rove beetles within the subfamily Pselaphinae, established by Reitter in 1882. The tribe comprises four subtribes: Centrophthalmina, Janusculina, Somatipionina, and Tyrina. Members of this tribe are small, compact beetles adapted to cryptic habitats such as leaf litter and soil.

  rove-beetlePselaphinaeStaphylinidaeColeopteracryptic-habitatleaf-littersoil-fauna

• Upoluna

  Upoluna is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Pselaphinae, family Staphylinidae. Members of this genus are placed in the tribe Tyrini and subtribe Somatipionina. The genus was established by Schaufuss in 1886. Like other pselaphines, species in this genus are small, compact beetles associated with leaf litter and soil habitats.

  ColeopteraStaphylinidaePselaphinaerove-beetlesminute-beetlessoil-faunaleaf-litter

• Uropodina

  Uropodina is an infraorder of mites in the order Mesostigmata, characterized by morphologically variable forms with fused sternal and ventral shields, short legs with reduced setae, and stigmata positioned between the second and third leg pairs. Most species inhabit soil, forest litter, and decaying organic matter, where they function primarily as predators of small invertebrates. Many species exhibit phoresy during the deutonymph stage, attaching to insects and other arthropods for dispersal using a secreted elastic pedicel. Reproduction is predominantly sexual, though parthenogenesis occurs in some species with males rare or absent.

  mitesMesostigmatasoil-faunaphoresypredatorsparthenogenesisdead-woodant-associates

• Vertagopus

  Vertagopus is a genus of springtails in the family Isotomidae, comprising approximately 30 described species distributed across arctic, alpine, and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The genus includes both widespread and geographically restricted species, with some showing strict alpine specializations. Certain species, such as V. sarekensis, are notable for forming large aggregations and exhibiting coordinated group migration behaviors. The genus has been subject to recent taxonomic revision in eastern Siberia, where new species continue to be described.

  springtailsCollembolaIsotomidaealpinearcticaggregating-behaviorcuticular-lipidscyclopropane-hydrocarbonssoil-faunanutrient-cycling

• Vertagopus arboreus

  Vertagopus arboreus is a species of elongate-bodied springtail in the family Isotomidae. It is widely distributed across northern Eurasia and parts of Asia. The species is associated with arboreal and ground-level habitats in forested environments. Taxonomic status varies between sources, with some authorities treating it as a synonym of Vertagopus asiaticus.

  springtailCollembolaIsotomidaearborealsoil-faunabark-dwelling

• Vertagopus pseudocinereus

  Vertagopus pseudocinereus is a species of elongate springtail in the family Isotomidae, described from Arctic and northern temperate regions. It belongs to the order Entomobryomorpha, characterized by relatively long antennae and a slender body form compared to the more compact Poduromorpha. The species has been recorded across circumpolar and northern montane regions.

  springtailCollembolaIsotomidaeArcticborealelongateentomobryomorphsoil-faunadecomposermicroarthropod

• Willowsia platani

  slender springtail

  Willowsia platani is a species of slender springtail in the family Entomobryidae. First described by Nicolet in 1842, this small hexapod is characterized by its elongated, slender body form typical of the genus. The species is known from Europe and has been recorded across multiple continents including Asia. As a member of Collembola, it lacks wings and possesses the characteristic furcula (springing organ) that gives springtails their common name.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunaEuropean-faunaEntomobryidae

• Willowsiinae

  Willowsiinae is a subfamily of springtails (Collembola) in the family Entomobryidae, established by Yoshii and Suhardjono in 1989. These elongate-bodied springtails are distinguished by specific chaetotaxy patterns and antennal segment proportions. The subfamily includes several genera found across diverse habitats, though detailed biological studies remain limited for many constituent taxa.

  springtailsCollembolasoil-faunaEntomobryidae

• Winnertzia

  Winnertzia is a genus of mycophagous gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, subfamily Porricondylinae. The genus is exceptionally speciose, with 136 extant species currently recognized following recent taxonomic revisions. Species are documented from the Palearctic, Neotropical, and Australasian regions. Larvae develop in association with fungal substrates.

  gall-midgesmycophagousfungus-feedingCecidomyiidaePorricondylinaeWinnertziinaeWinnertziinisoil-faunadecomposer

• Xantholinus linearis

  Linear Rove Beetle

  Xantholinus linearis is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, characterized by an elongated, slender body form typical of the genus. The species was described by Blatchley in 1910. As a member of the tribe Xantholinini, it belongs to a group of rove beetles often associated with decaying organic matter and soil habitats. The specific epithet 'linearis' refers to the linear, slender body shape.

  rove-beetleStaphylinidaesoil-faunaAzoresdecomposition

• Xenylla

  springtails

  Xenylla is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Hypogastruridae, containing at least 120 described species. Members are small, soil-dwelling hexapods found across diverse biomes including tropical, desert, Antarctic, and Amazonian regions. The genus includes species used as biomarkers for soil pollution assessment, notably Xenylla welchi, which exhibits sensitive physiological responses to heavy metal contamination.

  soil-faunapollution-indicatorbiomarkerheavy-metal-sensitivitytropicalAntarcticdesertAmazonian

• Xenylla grisea

  Xenylla grisea is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Hypogastruridae, first described by Axelson in 1900. It is a small, soil-dwelling hexapod found across multiple geographic regions including the Azores, Andean regions, the Caribbean, and Atlantic islands. Laboratory studies have documented its reproductive biology and developmental timing under controlled conditions.

  springtailCollembolasoil-faunalaboratory-reared

• Zabrini

  Seed-eating Ground Beetles

  Zabrini is a tribe of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, subfamily Pterostichinae, with more than 750 described species across three genera. The tribe is divided into two subtribes: Amarina (containing Amara and Pseudamara) and Zabrina (containing Zabrus). Species are found primarily in the Holarctic region, with exceptional diversity in China. The common name 'Seed-eating Ground Beetles' reflects granivory observed in some species, though feeding habits vary considerably across the tribe.

  Carabidaeground-beetlesHolarcticgranivorypredatory-beetlessoil-fauna

• Zerconidae

  Zerconidae is a family of mesostigmatid mites found primarily in soil and litter habitats across the Northern Hemisphere. The family includes approximately 20 genera and numerous species, with documented occurrences in North America, Europe, Turkey, and other regions. These mites have been collected from diverse habitats including boreal forests, temperate woodlands, reforested areas, felled sites, and forest canopies. Several genera are recognized, including Zercon, Prozercon, Mixozercon, Boreozercon, and Halozercon.

  mitessoil-faunamesostigmatidZerconoidealitter-faunaboreal-forestforest-canopyTurkeyNorth-AmericaEuropemicroarthropod

• Zygethobius

  Zygethobius is a genus of centipedes in the family Henicopidae, order Lithobiomorpha. These small to medium-sized centipedes are characterized by 15 pairs of legs as adults, a defining trait of the order. The genus was established by Chamberlin in 1903 and contains species primarily found in western North America. Members of this genus are terrestrial predators adapted to specific microhabitats.

  centipedeLithobiomorphaHenicopidaeNorth-Americamyriapodsoil-fauna

• Zygona duplex

  Zygona duplex is a species of soil-dwelling centipede in the family Geophilidae, described by Chamberlin in 1960. It belongs to the order Geophilomorpha, which comprises the most diverse group of centipedes characterized by their elongated, worm-like bodies with numerous leg pairs. The species is known from the United States.

  centipedemyriapodsoil-faunaGeophilidaeGeophilomorphaChilopodapredatorfossorialNorth-AmericaUSAChamberlin-1960

• Zygoribatula

  Zygoribatula is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Oribatulidae. These small arachnids are part of the diverse soil-dwelling mite fauna. The genus was established by Berlese in 1916. Records indicate presence in Denmark and Norway, though the genus likely has broader distribution in suitable habitats.

  mitesoribatidssoil-faunadecomposerscryptic